The show now utilises around 100 acres of land, including car parks, with the main showfield area taking up a whopping 40 acres.

Despite the economic downturn which is currently gripping the nation by the purse strings, Driffield show director David Tite said during a special breakfast press briefing this morning that there had been an impressive ten percent increase in the number of trade exhibitors this year.

"Weather permitting we are anticipating 20,000 visitors to the show," he explained.

The sixth annual Enterprise Village space - which showcases new rural businesses - has 33 exhibitors, with about 30 percent being new participants for this year.

The Enterprise Village is a Driffield Agricultural Society initiative set up to support and promote local and rural business enterprises by providing practical support to enable mainly new businesses to exhibit at the show.

It also allows for more established businesses to promote themselves with trade stands outside the main showground.

The free-of-charge pre show sales and marketing-based bespoke training courses have for the third year been very well attended.

Mr Tite said: "We have also produced the third edition of our popular Enterprise Village Guide, our directory of local businesses supported by the Enterprise Village initiative, the majority of which are exhibiting with us this year."

Record cattle entries were expected for 2008, with a new section for British blonde cattle, but organisers said that livestock generally had been affected by government regulations brought in to halt the spread of blue tongue disease by restricting animal movements in certain areas of the country.

Driffield show is the largest single-day event of its kind in the region and a free shuttle bus will operate all day between Driffield town centre and the showground.