ROYAL Lancashire Show bosses today insisted they had learned the lessons of last year's "disaster" after the 2004 event was finally given the green light.

The show, at Salesbury Hall, near Ribchester, was abandoned amid traffic chaos and bad weather last year, prompting residents, police and council officials to criticise the organisers.

Now plans to solve the problems have won backing from police and Ribble Valley Council, which today said it would allow the show to go ahead, ending months of uncertainty over the event.

The council had threatened to pull the plug on the show unless organisers could prove they had done all they could to prevent a repeat of last year's fiasco.

As well as health and safety concerns on the site itself, one of the biggest problems last year was traffic congestion, with some people queuing for hours to get on the site.

Inspector Bob Ford of Clitheroe police said: "I am confident that this year's show will run smoothly from a traffic management point of view.

"A lot of lessons have been learnt and with the new entrance to the show site will mean people can get onto the site more quickly."

Police will patrol the road network, including the A59, and control traffic signals to ensure a smooth flow of traffic.

Andrew Thompson, the show's director, said: "We've worked hard to make sure there isn't a repeat of last year and we are explaining the plans to residents to reassure them, too.

"The thing about the show is the traffic won't all arrive at once - it arrives over a period of time.

"Without having to stop and pay to park, the traffic should flow on to the car parks smoothly. We have spaces for 15,000 cars this year."

Rennie Pinder, chairman of the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society, said: "We have learned a lot of lessons."

John Heap, director of commercial services at Ribble Valley Council, said: "We are happy to now let the show go ahead.

"Avoiding a repeat of last year and ensuring health and safety was dealt with was always our primary concern."