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Stafford set for biggest and best show so far, say officials

Parrot Society UK show organisers say this Sunday's National Exhibition looks set to be the biggest and most successful held so far.

The National Exhibition 2011 will be held at The Stafford Country Showground on Sunday, October 9, and organisers expect between 6,000-8,000 people through the doors.

Les Rance, secretary of the Parrot Society UK, said: "This year the show has had its best demand since we have been running it for 24 years. It's the Parrot Society's major event of the year and is obviously very important for the society – but, more than that, it's a shop window for anyone who keeps birds."

The event, which has 16 clubs exhibiting, has grown stronger each year. Mr Rance explained: "The show is a team effort between all of the bird clubs in this country.

"Thanks to the extra publicity, people are getting to know it has been running for many years, and it's built up its own momentum since 2007 when exhibition birds were introduced to the show."

Mr Rance is confident that this year's show will beat last year's due to the amount of interest. He said: "It's going to be bigger than last year. The exhibition side keeps growing, fanciers have had a good breeding season, and the society has received lots of bookings for sales tables."

The show has strong support from traders, and many have asked for larger stands compared to previous years. Mr Rance said: "The Bird Care Company and Johnston and Jeff have both been most generous with donations of their products as prizes for the prize winners. Club's will be hosting their own raffles, there will be a tombola, and two large display aviaries where people can go in and get up close to parrots."

● The National Exhibition will be held at the Stafford County Showground, Stafford ST18 0BD. Contact the Parrot Society, tel: 01442 872245, or visit: www.theparrotsocietyuk.org.