THERE'S a whole host of surprises at this year's sunny St Helens Show staged from Friday, July 30 to Sunday, August 1 at Sherdley Park. And your ST HELENS STAR will be there in force as usual with our showstopping competitions including Mother and Baby, Starbud and Starlad with a staggering prize tally of more than £6,000.

This is the 31st Annual St Helens Show which attracts crowds of 300,000 during the three day period making it one of the best supported free shows.

Ged Gibbons, Service Promotions Officer said: "In order to maintain its position as one of the country's finest Shows, St Helens MBC Community Education and Leisure Services Department have introduced a number of new attractions this year which we are confident will increase the number of visitors.

"These are themed areas; two additional arenas - packed with: local and national talent; live music in several locations; marquees, children's playworld - a huge children's area with inflatables, Circus Workshops, a pet show, entertainers, a Junior Driving School for toddlers (from Legoland, Copenhagen) - complete with Pass certificate and a children's animal farm; traditional bandstand; indoor arena - live entertainment and competitions; a Technology park - new and exciting; quad bikes; traditional arts and crafts - by local children and adults and a huge community day - on Friday July 30 - complete with £2,000 FREE 'It's a Knockout' adult inflatable. There will also be many more surprises". These will supplement the already popular attractions within the Show: a major Funfair, Big Top Circus, flower and craft marquees, veteran and classic car show, equestrian events, trade and exhibition sites.

In addition a significant amount of work has been carried out to improve the infrastructure of the showground site, with Tarmac pathways / roadways being introduced to allow traders and pedestrians greater access to the entire site.

Additional heavy duty pathways will be laid to ensure access to all of the site. Problems associated with bad weather and poor access will hopefully be alleviated, with wheelchair users, parents and babies in prams, the elderly and pedestrians in general having a network of established pathways which will allow all visitors access to the whole 150 acre site.

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