Keighley & District Agricultural Show bosses have issued an eleventh-hour plea for the public to support Saturday’s event.

Chairman, William Mitchell, is hoping for a bumper turnout at the annual extravaganza, which was cancelled last year due to the saturated state of the Marley playing fields venue.

“It was a huge disappointment to have to cancel last year – so much work goes into organising the event and we’d got good momentum going with the previous couple of shows,” said Mr Mitchell, of Grange Farm in Oakworth.

“We hope as many people as possible will come along on Saturday to give their support. There is a lot of money to recoup after the disappointment of 2012, so we need every bit of support we can get.

“It promises to be a really good show, with plenty of classes and attractions for everyone.”

Mr Mitchell, 41, is in his third year as chairman. His family has been involved in the event, now in its 56th year, since its early days.

Saturday’s show will feature more than 500 classes.

Traditional agriculture-themed sections include tractors, cattle, sheep, pygmy goats and horses, plus show jumping.

But there is a huge range of other classes, from horticulture and handicrafts to ferrets, plus stalls and trade stands.

And the line-up of attractions will include a chainsaw carver, birds of prey, alpacas, terrier racing, a theatre group and Haworth Band.

Show president this year is Jean Harker, whose family is also strongly linked with the event.

Her late husband, Edgar, a farmer, was a former president and served as show manager for many years.

Mrs Harker succeeded her mother-in-law as secretary of the handicraft and domestic (produce) section in 1970, and held the post until 2009, when her youngest daughter Karen Walbank took over!

This year’s handicraft and domestic class includes photography, and the section also features a variety of arts, crafts, baking and preserves.

Free parking will be available at the site, but Keighley Bus Museum Trust will once again be providing a free service linking town centre locations and the showground.

And there will be a free minibus transfer, courtesy of Leeds City College Keighley Campus, between the main gates and the show area.

Cut-price tickets – at £6 for adults, £3 concessions – can be obtained until tomorrow (September 6) from Keighley Civic Centre in North Street, or from the photo services counter at the town’s Sainsbury’s store. Admission on the day will be £7 for adults and £4 concessions.

Visit keighleyshow.co.uk or call 01535 633852 for further information.

l A giant billboard touring the country as part of a campaign to beat meningitis is visiting Keighley Show.

The initiative, which includes a petition, is calling for a new vaccine to be bought in by the end of the year.

Shelagh Hopkinson, of Riddlesden, is Meningitis UK and Meningitis Trust fundraising officer for Yorkshire. She said: “We’d like everyone to come along and see us at the Keighley Show, so we can help spread awareness about this terrible disease and get their support for our campaign by signing our petition.”

She said the meningitis B vaccine was licensed for use in the UK but had not yet been introduced into the immunisation programme.