MONSTER trucks, stuntmen, falcons and sheep-shearing are all part of a packed programme of events at the Dorset County Show this weekend.

The annual event is taking place today and tomorrow at the Dorchester Showground, Cokers Frome.

Show secretary Sam Mackenzie-Green said she was looking forward to a ‘great weekend’ after ticket sales had ‘gone through the roof’.

She said: “We obviously had wet weather at the beginning of the week, so we had to hold off getting everything on to the grass.

“That means the last few days have been really busy but the showground is coming together and it looks really good.”

Highlights of this year’s show include the finals of the English Sheep Shearing Championship, which had to be abandoned at the Yorkshire Show earlier this year due to bad weather.

Regular events such as the Harvest Thanksgiving service, with the Bishop of Sherborne as a speaker, will also be held and other entertainment ranges from monster trucks, mountain bike stunts and free running to falconry displays.

French naturalist Christian Moullec will be taking to the skies above the showground with his flock of geese and the Kangeroos Gymnastic Display Team will also give a performance.

Mrs Mackenzie-Green said: “The sheep shearing, which we rescued from Yorkshire, is going to be fantastic and we also have lots of things going on that we haven’t had before, like the monster trucks and free runners – so that looks like it will be really good fun.

“There’s also a lot going on in the countryside ring. I’m looking forward to a good couple of days.”

The 2012 event has seen more people entering livestock classes and trader stands than ever before, she added.

“The event just seems to be going from strength to strength.”

Tickets are available on the gates, with children going free. The show runs both days from 8.30am to 6pm.

For more information, visit www.dorsetcountyshow.co.uk