ONE of the highlights of this year's Kent Show will be the chance to see the Rugby World Cup, the Webb Ellis Cup, on display at the Kent Messenger Group's stand.

The group, which is the show's media sponsor, has teamed up with the RFU Sweet Charity tour to bring the cup to the event, which takes place at the County Showground, Detling, near Maidstone, from July 15 to 17.

The KM Group has chosen to focus on sport in the local community as the theme for its stand.

Visitors will be able to have a go at competing in a number of sports, including running, rowing, cycling, archery, basket ball, golf and rugby.

There will be categories for men, women and children, with winners every day.

Maidstone Leisure Centre is providing staff and equipment for the stand.

Organisers of the show have promised it will be even bigger and better this year, with longer opening hours and more family-orientated fun.

The centrepiece will be a huge food and drink expo in the Kent Pavilion.

A delegation from France and the Minister of Agriculture from Virginia, America, will attend, ensuring an international flavour for the show.

Sir Don Curry, a leading figure in the strategy for sustainable farming and food, will host a seminar on the first day, funded by SEEDA, for some 200 farmers and growers.

A science into action area in the agricultural section will include an interactive display and a life-size model of a dairy cow, provided by the Kent Museum of Rural Life, for the public to try their hand at milking.

Kent Young Farmers will have a large area with an extra marquee for small animals, leaving room in the larger marquees for the growing numbers of cattle and sheep.

There will also be new displays and exhibitors across the showground, with evening entertainment running beyond 6pm, when the trade stands and livestock exhibitions close, to 8pm.

There will also be more ticket and credit card machines around the show, to cut down on queues.

The evening programme will feature pop and tribute bands, including the Robbie Williams Experience, celebrity lookalikes, comedians and games and competitions.