Yet another North Yorkshire agricultural show has fallen victim to the foot and mouth disease crisis.

Huby and Sutton Show, which regularly attracts crowds of 5,000 people, has been cancelled following an extraordinary meeting of the show committee.

"It was inevitable," said Jane Johnson, show secretary. "We are lucky not to have the disease in this immediate area and we could not risk bringing it in.

"The committee was unanimous in its decision and all our thoughts are with the farmers who are suffering at this time.

She added: "We feel so sorry for our suppliers and all those people whose livelihood depends on having trade stands at agricultural shows, but we feel we have no option and hope that they will be back next year."

The show is held annually in July in the parkland setting of Sutton Park, in Sutton-on-the-Forest, near Easingwold, and is well known for its high level of competition for horse showing and show jumping as well as agricultural classes.

The Evening Press reported yesterday that the Thornton-le-Dale Show, near Pickering, had been cancelled because of the foot and mouth situation, joining the likes of the Malton Show as a casualty of the crisis.

Meanwhile, another case of foot and mouth disease has been found in North Yorkshire, bringing the total number of outbreaks in the county to 21.

A vet from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food found the infection in cattle at Picton Grange Farm, at Picton, north of Northallerton.

All the livestock on the farm will have to be slaughtered and investigations are under way to identify the possible source and spread of the infection.

Updated: 08:59 Thursday, April 26, 2001