Lord Kingsdown has taken over from Lord Falmouth as president of Kent County Agricultural Society.

Lord Falmouth has been president since 1986.

Lord Kingsdown, who retired as Lord Lieutenant of Kent earlier this month, said it was a great challenge following Lord Falmouth.

"He's been a terrific supporter of the county show and Kent agriculture," he said.

Lord Kingsdown said he was sure it was right to go ahead with the 2001 show, even though it made a loss.

The society's function was to promote Kent agriculture and Kent business. "If it costs a little money every now and again, it's money well spent."

He was optimistic that the 2002 show, which for the first time will be held on a Sunday, as well as the Friday and Saturday, would "take off very well."

This year's show will be held on July 12, 13 and 14.

Last summer's show, which went ahead without livestock because of Foot and Mouth Disease, lost £136,000.

John Jennings, chairman of the society, said the loss, which followed a £91,000 deficit on the 2000 show, did not worry him.

The county show was the one opportunity that farming had to show off itself to the public.

The Kent County Show's admission prices remained among the cheapest in the country, he said.

Much of the loss was down to depreciation of assets. Another factor was the depressed stock market on September 27 when the Society's books were closed.

Another show source said that the deficit might have been as high as £400,000 if the show had been cancelled.