The Caithness County Show is expected to go ahead next year after two successive cancellations due to the pandemic.

Organisers had to cancel the popular event in 2020 and again this year because of the Covid-19 restrictions but hope it will be staged in 2022.

John Murray, the president of Caithness Agricultural Society, which organises the show, said: "We are quietly confident of getting going again next year."

He explained it was with "deep regret and huge disappointment" that the decision was taken to cancel this year's event, which had been due to take place in Wick on July 16 and 17.

"We really don't know what the restrictions are going to be come July and if the judges would be keen to travel up here," said Mr Murray, who stressed that people's safety is of paramount importance.

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He also pointed out that preparations for the show take a long time. "A couple of weeks after the show finishes we start making plans for the next one."

Mr Murray went on: "After much consideration, the management committee feel there is no option but to propose to cancel the 2021 show.

"Preparations for our event under normal circumstances start in November and run right up to the show itself.

"This involves the investment of many man hours and many thousands of pounds, which is not recoverable unless a successful show takes place."

He added: "Under the current situation, with a total lack of any degree of certainty that the government or local councils would permit this event to take place, or that the public themselves would feel safe in attending, we have decided that it would be irresponsible of us to risk losing the society’s money when, with circumstances beyond our control, the whole thing could end up being cancelled."

The Caithness County Show is one of the foremost agricultural events in the north. Caithness Agricultural Society was founded in 1830 and hosts the show annually, alternating the venue between Wick and Thurso.

The 2019 show in Wick attracted up to 6500 spectators.

• Pictures by Alan Hendry unless otherwise stated.

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