ORGANISERS are looking for memorabilia dating back to 1853 - the year of the first Great Eccleston Show.

The popular agricultural show celebrates its 150th anniversary this weekend and artefacts could help piece together the fascinating history of the event which dates back to Victorian times.

This year will be a special occasion as organisers pull out all the stops to make it one of the best ever. The show regularly attracts more than 40,000 visitors.

President, Dr John Mackie, said: "It would be fascinating to hear from people with memorabilia relating to past shows.

"There is a tremendous history to the show and we would love to hear from people who have kept or collected any items of historical significance."

Old programmes, photographs and other items could all help give an insight into how the Great Eccleston Show, which now spans three centuries, has progressed over the years.

The Great Eccleston & District Agricultural Society was founded in 1853 as the 'Rawcliffe Farmers Club'.

The 65 founder members were mainly yeoman farmers from the three Rawcliffes - Out, Middle and Upper (now generally called St Michael's).

It held its first ploughing match in March that year, and in October staged the first Show, with classes for Cattle, Pigs, and Horses.

The Club soon gained support from a wider area of the Fylde around Great Eccleston, and in 1864 the name was changed to 'Great Eccleston & District Agricultural Association'.

With the demise of other local shows in the last century, the Society's area expanded to include the whole of the Fylde bounded by the M6 and the sea, between the Ribble and the Lune.

To mark the 150th Anniversary of the Society the organiser of this year's Show are going all out to make it something special.

Great Eccleston Show has always been famous for world-renowned Holstein dairy cattle, and the magnificent Shire horses that appear there.

On Sunday the emphasis switches to light horses, goats and the monster tractors roaring into action in the tractor-pulling competition.

Large marquees will display everything from handicrafts, home baking and horticulture to paintings, photography and children's art from local schools.

Demonstrations by rural craftsmen will feature the work of the thatcher, stone mason, wheelwright, blacksmith, bodger, cooper, cane and rush weaver and stick maker. In the popular food hall the accent will be on local farm produce.

Farming and countryside campaigner Clarissa Dickson-Wright, of 'Two Fat Ladies' fame, will be giving cookery demonstrations on both days.

Other attractions, a Welsh village, complete with harpist, a staged Sheep Display, a vintage Fairground, Tricky Tykes Terrier Racing and displays by English Nature and Wyre Rangers.

The event takes place this Saturday and Sunday by the main A586. Ample free car parking is provided, with admission £6 for adults, £4 senior concessions and £1 children.