THE Royal Lancashire Show is moving out of the Ribble Valley after organisers struck a deal for a new site.

Next year's event will be held at new facilities at Myerscough, near Garstang, and show chiefs hope the new showground will provide a long-term home for the show.

Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society chairman Gordon Roberts said the current site at Salesbury Hall, near Ribchester, had always been only a temporary home for the show.

The new site will be on the former site of quarries in Myerscough being developed by the Duchy of Lancaster Estate, which own much of the land throughout the Forest of Bowland.

The Duchy has lodged plans with Wyre Borough Council to develop a "Lancashire Gateway" which will provide a base for rural visitor attractions and countryside pursuits.

As part of the site, a permanent showground will be built and Mr Roberts said the society had struck an agreement to move there after this year's three-day show at Salesbury Hall which starts on Friday, July 21. Mr Roberts said: "We have been examining sites around Lancashire because we are looking for a permanent home.

"Colin and Janice Mustoe have been so good to us at Salesbury but we just want to do more and the new site will allow us to generate a bigger following.

"We aim to be part of a renaissance for Lancashire and the Myerscough site will be a focal point for people to visit."

Colin Mustoe runs furniture manufacturer Senator, in Accrington.

Mr Roberts said that because of the impending move, this year's show would retain a particular nostalgia as they aimed to get another 60,000 through the gates and match the 2006 attendance.

Next month's event also has greater significance because it will see the return of dairy cattle for the first time since the wash-out in 2003 when torrential rain saw the final day cancelled.

"We have got enthusiastic stewards involved once again and we are looking forward to a really good show," he added.

Both Colin and Janet Mustoe were unavailable for comment.