MORE than 27,000 free tickets to the Durham Country Show have been sent to children in Wearside.

The County Show at Herrington Country Park at Penshaw, Sunderland, takes place on Saturday and Sunday.

The agricultural show has been running for the last 160 years, and was traditionally held at the Lambton Park estate, near Chester-le-Street.

But last year it was moved to Penshaw, an area which was once within the boundaries of County Durham.

Sunderland City Council has issued 27,000 free tickets to junior and infant schools throughout the area, in the hope that the children will bring their family and friends.

Show secretary Christine Duke said: "We hope to have more children attend the show as a result of repeating this exercise.

"On one hand it is a gift that the Agricultural Society can make to the community of the area and on the other it will assist in establishing our audience for future years."

There will be a range of agricultural competitions and a range of activities for children, with model boat regattas, face painting, bouncy castles, a fairground, animals, a pet dog show and music in the amphitheatre.