ORGANISERS of the Cheshire Show face a crucial two weeks to decide on the fate of this year's show.

The 163-year-old show has not been cancelled, apart from the war years, since a cattle plague in 1886.

But two outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in Baddiley near Nantwich have confirmed farmers' worst fears that the disease may take a stranglehold in Cheshire.

And organisers of the Cheshire Show, one of the country's biggest agricultural celebrations, have admitted that cancelling this year's show is now a "distinct possibility."

Show committee secretary David Broster said: "The foot and mouth situation is not improving and cancellation is now a distinct possibility.

"We have made no decision yet and are going ahead as normal.

"But we will have a meeting in the first week in April when a decision will have to be made."

The show is not held until June 19 and 20, but staging it costs over £500,000 and organisers say they cannot risk forking out if there is a chance it will be cancelled at the last minute.

Last year's show attracted over 30,000 visitors each day to Tabley. Cancellation will be a cruel blow to a rural economy already on its knees.

Meanwhile nearby Tatton Park is losing around £17,000 a week, since it was forced to close at the beginning of the foot and mouth crisis.

And the figure could at least double from the end of this month when the mansion house was due to open.

Cheshire County Council's director of community development Jeremy Taylor admitted: "Tatton Park is facing a very severe financial crisis."

The estate, which normally attracts around 750,000 visitors a year, was closed on February 23, to help prevent the spread of foot and mouth and also to protect Tatton's herds of deer, and home farm animals.

Mr Taylor added that whilst the financial situation was serious it did not pose a threat to the future of Tatton.