THOUSANDS of countryside revellers are expected to gather at a horse and dog spectacular.

About 7,000 people are expected to attend the 71st annual Cricklade Show.

The show will take place on Monday from 9am to 5pm, at Broadleaze Farm, Chelworth Road, Cricklade.

Attractions will include a motorcycle stunt team, the renowned Dolphin Marching Band and children’s theatre shows Dingle Fingle and the Clown Town Crime Watch.

Visitors will also be treated to old favourites, including a falconry show, a British Driving Association carriage racing display, horse jumpers and displays by the Masters of Foxhounds Association.

Jo Howse, chairman of the organising committee, said the Cricklade Show was run as an agricultural event until the 2001 foot and mouth scare put the event on hold. Last year it was cancelled because of heavy rain.

Since then organisers have worked hard to come up with new ideas to keep the show up to date.

Jo said: “We offer great value for money, with family passes running at £10. Locally there is no show that offers a bigger array of things to do and see, especially when it comes to our dog and horse acts.

“Children will love it because they can get right up to the animals and take part in the funfair that we run.”

Jo said the show supported local charities and added: “By coming to the show residents are to a certain degree supporting themselves by putting money back into the local community.”

She added that after the show, which collected more than £6,000 in 2007, the organising committee will ask local people to nominate deserving charities to receive the raised cash.

Charities supported in the past include Wiltshire Air Ambulance and Wroughton’s Prospect Hospice.

Anyone interested in finding out more is asked to visit www.crickladeshow.co.uk or call Jo on 07881 817904.