A VIRTUAL village of show tents will be set up in Darlington's South Park next week in the run up to the biggest dog show in the North.

Exhibitors will be travelling from all over the UK and Europe to be judged by 150 world renowned judges from as far afield as the USA, Israel and Finland.

Roughly nine thousand pedigree dogs such as the Hungarian Kuvasz, the Braco Italiano and the Kooikerhondje will rub shoulders with the more familiar breeds.

During the ten days prior to the show, which spans Friday, September 13 to Sunday, workmen move in to set up tents and spectator areas to accommodate the thousands of exhibitors, general public and hundreds of trade stands which sell everything possible with a canine theme.

Coun Doris Jones, the Mayor of Darlington, will open the show at 9.30am on the Friday and will also present the best in show trophies after judging on the Sunday.