DAVID Morris, chief executive of Ribble Valley Council, defended the choice of site for this year's show.

He said: "We had a good working relationship with the organisers of the show and we have been very supportive of the bringing the show back to the Ribble Valley.

"I think this was a really good site.

"I am no expert but as far as I know this was also a brilliant site for drainage because of the river, but we had to make a decision with the show organisers and the police.

"This was an issue of health and safety and it is something you can't compromise on. Safety is paramount.

"But we will be speaking to the show's organisers about next year's show -- we will still be there to support them.

"We recognise there were problems with the traffic, but the police did their best.

"If the sun had been shining over the last few days then I don't think the problems with traffic would have been as bad."

Chairman of the organisers Rennie Pinder said rain and large numbers of visitors has placed the situation out of their control.

Mr Pinder said: "I apologise unreservedly to drivers. However, if you go to the Trafford Centre you would face three-and-a-half hour delays, if you go to a football match you accept delays.

"Yes we have to accept these problems, I apopogise but most people have been patient.

"The problems have been caused by the number of people who have come.

"We looked at it very carefully and we may have got our figures slightly wrong, we have got more people coming to the show than we anticipated. That's not a fault of ours or a fault of the police.

"Its a suitable showground, its the first time we have used the ground and these problems will be addressed."