The Essex County Show has finally been axed after the Essex Agricultural Society, which established the show 144 years ago, said there was no point in continuing.

Anthony Peel, chairman of the society's show committee and chairman of Essex County Council, said: "I don't think there is any prospect of it coming back. After no shows for a couple of years, members have no enthusiasm for it."

The show's future has been precarious for most of the last 14 years despite efforts to revamp it, investment from the sale of society property and a grant from the county council in the 1990s.

The latest blow to the show is that construction of a £30m racecourse at the Showground, Great Leighs - its home since 1958 - has fallen behind schedule.

Attendances have fallen since the heyday of the 1960s and 1970s.

Cllr Peel said: "We would have been well into planning for 2003 by now, and making applications for judges for 2004.

"No such preparations have been made for a County Show. Most people in the society have lost enthusiasm. There is no point continuing.

"We think we can invest our finances in more productive things like lectures, university grants and bursaries, and supporting agriculture in other ways. The County Show had become a big financial liability. We shall, however, be putting all our efforts into backing the Essex Young Farmers' Show at the new Little Waltham venue for 2003."

Published Thursday November 7, 2002

Brought to you by the Essex Chronicle