FOR the third year running, traditional agricultural shows will be hit by the aftermath of the foot and mouth epidemic.

Having been cancelled outright in 2001, last year's shows were either cancelled again - or went ahead without cattle and sheep. Those that did go ahead - like Otley Show - were poorly attended and clearly suffered without the pull of the livestock.

Now, for the third year show organisers are being forced to leave livestock out of their schedules. Otley Show is planning at the moment for livestock and believes it will be able to get round the restrictions still held in place by the Government.

But for other, smaller shows - such as Weeton Show - the restrictions are still too much to handle. Organisers fear the longer livestock stay away from shows the more difficult it will be for them to return. One can only hope that the awful epidemic of 2001 has not meant the end of agricultural shows.

Sainsbury's supermarkets has again expressed an interest in building a store in Otley. Having withdrawn its application in 1999 because of the length of time it was taking to be processed, the supermarket chain is believed to be coming back with a fresh application.

In a letter to councillors, it says it has been in discussions with Leeds City Council and has come to agreements over the design of the new building on Bondgate and highways issues - both issues that led to the last plan being withdrawn.

Critics of a Sainsbury's store in Otley say it will kill off the town centre, while others say it will breathe new life into the struggling town. It's a difficult one - there are clearly fewer empty shops in the town centre than there were a few years ago, but there are still too many charity shops and salons.

A Sainsbury's supermarket might just draw people into the town and show others that a big multiple has enough confidence to open in Otley.