THE hugely popular Royal Lancashire Agricultural Show makes its final appearance at Chorley's Astley Park at the end of this month.

The prestigious show, which takes place July 26-28, will be at a different venue next year, yet to be decided, say show bosses.

Chorley Borough Council chiefs say the event is moving because it is getting too big for the park.

But the organisers claim the local council blew the whistle on the event because upgrading work on Astley Park over the next year will make it impossible to play host to the event.

But both parties deny any disagreement.

Rennie Pinder, chairman of the show which has been at Astley Park since 1988, said: "We had a meeting with Chorley Borough Council earlier this year. We were told at that meeting that by the end of this year Chorley Borough Council will have applied for a lottery grant to upgrade the park and we would not fit in with their plans.

"We immediately started to look for another site. We were also looking to move to a bigger site but this has helped us to move quicker.

David Jones, head of leisure services at the council, said: "It is very unfortunate that the show is moving on, but it was running out of space." This year features an exciting falconry display, a tasting session of Lancashire cheese, a 'Ladies Day' inspired by Royal Ascot on the Friday, and the British Showjumping Association's National Ladies' Championship.

But it will still not host cloven hoof animals because of the enduring effects of foot and mouth disease.

Lord David Waddington, president of the Royal Lancashire Show, said: "The health of the country depends on having a healthy countryside.

"The Royal Lancashire Show offers people the chance to get together and show what goes on in the countryside, and offers the opportunity for people from urban areas to show their support for rural communities."

Visitors will also be among the first to see the official vehicle from television's Scooby Doo.

The Mystery Machine has transported the likes of Scooby and Shaggy on many occasions, and the LDV van will be at the Dutton Forshaw stand at the show.