THE stewards at this year's Westmorland County Show will have to face a raft of measures in the wake of foot-and-mouth including hard hats, disposable white overalls, and even masks if they are dealing with straw, reports Michaela Robinson-Tate.

The warning came from the chief executive of the Westmorland County Agricultural Society Rodger Read who said the show would go ahead this year, but that DEFRA had provided detailed instructions on biosecurity measures in the wake of the foot-and-mouth crisis.

He had received the latest advice just prior to the society's annual meeting: "Having looked through it with some of the other members of the society I think we can just about handle the biosecurity measures that they are asking for."

However, he said that exhibitors were going to have to "start making choices" about whether to take part.

Speaking afterwards, he ex-plained that stock would have to be kept in isolation for 21 days after being exhibited, and that as the show happened during the time of year when there were sheep sales, it would prove a dilemma for potential exhibitors.

Mr Read reported on the other work of the society during the year, including the purchase of a mobile kitchen for farmers to use at markets; extensive IT training; practical courses like welding, which was heavily over-subscribed, and hiring out its premises at Lane Farm at Crooklands.

Retiring president Fred Martin said that following the petrol blockades in 2000 which threatened that year's show, and foot-and-mouth last year, it had not been the best of times.

He hoped for better circ-umstances this year: "I think we are going to have a very difficult year ahead, but I don't think we should get too despondent.

"With a bit of luck DEFRA will have realised the mistakes with all these regulations and even if they have not I think we will put on a show well worth a visit."

Incoming chairman John Park also looked forward optimistically.

" Previous people have mentioned the problems in our industry at the moment and we can't disguise those, we can't minimise them as they are considerable.

"But I'm so proud to be in this community and a member of this society because I think this society epitomises all that's best and what a rural community should be."

He said as well as a reasonable financial footing, the strength of the society lay in its membership.

The officers elected were: Henry Willison, president; Alan Thompson, president-elect; John Park, chairman; James Dixon, vice-chairman; Steve Procter, showfield director; Christine Knipe, treasurer; Highgate Clinic and Stramongate Veterinary Centre, honorary veterinary surgeons; Dr Ann Crawford, medical officer; Wilf Mitchell, honorary farrier; Helen Barnes, catering officer; David Knipe, publicity officer; Armstrong Watson, auditors; NatWest Bank and Barclays Bank, bankers; Hayton, Winkley, Bromley, Wood, solicitors and Fred Martin, life member.