Peterborough: East of England Show Cancelled

24 May 2013, 10:38 | Updated: 24 May 2013, 11:09

Peterborough's yearly East of England Show, which has been run for around 200 years, has been cancelled.

The East of England Agricultural Society says the show has lost too much money during the last few years, and will be replaced with several smaller events.

A statement from the society reads: "July 2013 sees a new and exciting development in the East of England Agricultural Society's long history. 

And we will be welcoming some 4,000 school children and their teachers to a day of celebration and education of the world of farming and the countryside, thus fulfilling a key element of our charitable objectives. 

As a result there will be no East of England show, or as some know it the Summer Show.

The decision to end more than two centuries of summer shows was not taken lightly. 

However, the trustees of the Society recognised with regret that the event had become disconnected from its agricultural roots, and had been failing on many fronts over several years. 

Most importantly, the losses incurred year after year by the charity could not be tolerated. 

This is by no means the end of agriculture at the Showground. 

Going forward the Society intends to focus on activities that are aligned with its charitable objectives and meet the needs of its members."