The Kent County Show is finally back and this year’s festival promises to be more jam-packed than ever.

Our reporter John Nurden was at the first day of the show checking out the events, attractions and speaking to visitors as the show returns for the first time since 2019.

Charles Tassell talking about the show

It is one of the biggest events in the Kent calendar and more than 15,000 cars are expected to descend on the Kent Showground at Detling throughout the three-day farming and agricultural festival.

Miley Collins, five, from Ashford was the star of the show when he threw a football for the pigs in Tom Hogg's pig show.

"You're the first person who can claim you really did play Piggy in the Middle", said Tom who gave a commentary as he introduced his animals.

He quipped: "Pigs have very powerful noses. They can smell something up to seven miles away. That's why the police are using them. That's quite ironic when you think about it."

He also introduced his rock star pig called Amy Swinehouse and another youngster called Harry Trotter, a student at Hogwarts.

Tom introduced a piglet learning a pig agility course as Boris Johnson with a topical gag: "He's got to learn a new job."

As the temperature rose, many owners let their dogs take advantage of the K9 Aquatics stand where dogs could leap into a pool of cold water to cool down.

Among the new attractions is the bandstand where the Rock Choir were performing a number of classics in the catering village which is packed with different types of food outlets ranging from burgers and crepes to pizza and fish and chips.

Diggerland was giving members of the public a chance to master the controls of mini diggers and youngsters had the run of the fair with the Big Wheel, carousel and chair-o-planes .

There is plenty for those who love machines with old steam engines, tractors, classic cars and buses.

Among the buses was an old 1958 Maidstone and District coach which used to ply the Sheppey to Detling route.

It is owned by Brian and Patricia Catchpole of Rochester. The couple have a collection in a shed at the bottom of their garden.

Patricia, 75, said: "Brian has always loved buses but the collecting really started when I bought him a bus driver's course for his 21st birthday. He passed, of course, and now we have eight!"

They are regulars at the County Show although Patricia admitted: "I was a little disappointed this year. There doesn't seem to be so many stalls and vehicles."

Mick Harrington, 67, from Northfleet agreed as he tended his half-scale Little Gem traction engine he had built from scratch in 2009.

He said: "There seem to be a lot missing from previous years."

Show spokeswoman Olivia Lewis-Deane said: "We have a new team and are all finding our feet. No one was sure what the Covid situation would be like this summer so we have put together a slightly cut-down show.

"But people seem to be enjoying it. And we are planning to make it bigger and better for next year when we celebrate the show's centenery."

County Show traffic manager Charles Tassell, says Fridays are always a problem because commuters are still using the A249 but they have had advance warnings signs up for a week and congestion has so far been kept to a minimum.

There was little trouble getting into the venue on the first day.

Mr Tassell expected 4,500 cars on Friday, 6,000 on Saturday and 5,000 on today - depending on the weather. But he adds: "No rain is forecast."

Our reporter John said: "The weather was incredible. It's forecast to be a scorcher (this weekend). Such a change from past years when I arrived to find a sea of mud and cars having to be pulled out of the quagmire by an army of tractors."

Mum Sara Pearson, 53, from Borough Green was busy putting sun lotion onto her daughter Lilly, nine.

Sara said: "I've taken Lilly out of school for this. My mum and dad used to bring me and my two sisters here every year when I was Lilly's age.

"It's so important for children to experience this. And it's amazing they can get in for free. I wanted her to see what a big event it is."

The kmfm team were also on the ground and Rob Wills went live with the drive time show from 3pm on the first day.

The show is not as big as past years as organisers still weren't sure if it would have been affected by Covid but they are hoping to pull out all the stops for next year - when it celebrates its 100th anniversary.

This year, the Kent County Show will once again be held at the Kent Showground in Detling, near Maidstone. The gates are open from 8.30am each day, and tickets can be purchased on the gate.

Tickets cost £22 for adults, and under 14s can enter for free. There will be plenty of car parking available, and Nu-Venture is also providing a shuttle bus service to and from Maidstone East Station and Kings Street from 9am to 6.15pm each day.

When you arrive at the show, there will be countless things to see and do - but don’t worry, we’re here to help you break it all down.

First up is the animals. The show is a huge celebration of Kent’s farming and agriculture industry and brings with it lots of furry friends.

Stroll through the Sheep Lines, Cattle and Goat Marquees where you can meet the animals in their pens, and stop off at the Equine Village for horse riding demonstrations and pony rides with ponies that have lots of experience meeting children.

You can also watch the showjumping classes in the Astor Ring for a thrilling display of speed and agility, or catch the K9 Aqua Sport’s dock jumping competition where your dog can compete in a swimming contest and splash around in the water.

There will be a chance to watch the evening milking in the Goat Area towards the end of the day, watch the expert sheep shearing demonstrations and visit the on-site dairy to see the cow milking competitions.

Don’t forget to make time for the majestic birds of prey shows, which will see these excellent hunters swoop and soar across the sky in a stunning live display at the Countryside Ring and Woodland Ring daily.

For the first time, this year's Kent County Show welcomed the Hogg Show, the UK’s only travelling pig stage show. Tom Hogg’s marvellous pigs will perform a hilarious and spectacular act each day near the Livestock Area.

There will also be pig agility competitions in the Countryside, Game and Canine Ring across the weekend, and also a fun-filled sheep show from Ginger Sutton and the team, which has proved a favourite in past years.

Even mythical creatures are making an appearance at this year’s show. Duke, the ‘real-life’ unicorn with his coloured man and tail, will be in the Equine Village for a cuddle and a magical photo opportunity on all three days.

There will be a chance to see almost all of the show’s animals in Saturday’s Grand Parade of Livestock in the Astor Ring, or at the Kent Young Farmers’ Clubs Area, where young people take part in their own show classes with animals such as cattle, rabbits and guinea pigs.

Once you’ve met all of the show’s wonderful animals, it might be time to catch some of the other entertainment on offer.

Each day of the Kent County Show will bring a new line up of fabulous live music, including the Rock Choir, Mama’s Funkin’ Skunks, the Lucky 13’s, Knights of Nevada, the Ruby Sisterz and Heart of Kent Show Choir, to name just a few.

The phenomenal British Army Band Colchester will be opening and closing the show on Saturday, and also concluding the event on Sunday, so you have a couple of opportunities to watch them.

Enjoy a touch of nostalgia with the show’s traditional fairground, which has everything from chair-oplanes to the big ferris wheel or, for an extra dose of adrenaline, try your hand at clay pigeon shooting or watch the daring tricks and stunts from the Kent Youth Trials Club.

You can hop on the beautifully crafted miniature railway and journey through the woods, where you can also take part in traditional woodland activities such as trug making, wattle hurdle-making and chair-making, plus learn about the art of horse-drawn timber extraction.

For transport enthusiasts, the miniature railway is just the tip of the iceberg. You can also wander through the Heritage Section to see a plethora of vintage and heritage vehicles on display and watch the Parade of Vintage Vehicles on all three days to see them in motion.

Kids can also get in on the action with A-Class Driving School, which will allow children to jump inside a specially adapted car and steer their way around a course designed for young drivers.

Those with green fingers can visit the Garden Life Area, which will be home to floral competitions, flower displays and educational sessions with the Kent Beekeeper’s Association.

Taking part in all the different activities is sure to work up an appetite, so you might want to pencil in a break at the outdoor food market. You’ll find lots of great eats here, including burgers, fish and chips, Greek souvlaki, toasties and salads.

You can also visit produce stands and buy fresh strawberries, Kentish cheese and sweet treats to take home, and stop off to find local delights at the Produced in Kent and Eden Crafts areas.

Finally, if you’re in the mood for some retail therapy, Love Fairs will be returning to the show to host the Antiques and Vintage Village with more than 50 of their finest dealers. Discover hidden gems and collectables, all while listening to some retro tunes from live artists.

If vintage isn’t your thing, the show has more than 300 trade stands for you to peruse, from Kentish wine to garden furniture, so you’re sure to find something you love from a range of local and independent businesses.

With so much to see, do and enjoy throughout the weekend, this year’s Kent County Show is set to come back bigger and better than ever before.

The Kent County Show runs until Sunday, July 10.