Work starts on improving Royal Welsh Show main ring

Image caption, The main showground ring was damaged during this year's Royal Welsh

Work has started on a project to replace the main ring at the Royal Welsh showground in Powys after several rain-soaked events in recent years.

A hard wearing type of grass will be laid, and a new drainage system will be installed with gravel and stoned areas called soak aways.

The work, which is costing about 拢500,000, is expected to be completed for next year's show.

The ring was damaged in July after a third rain-soaked event in four years.

A Royal Welsh Agricultural Society spokesman said work removing soil and putting in drainage pipes had started in the main ring, but the project was at a "very early stage".

Officials at the Royal Welsh Show in Llanelwedd, near Builth Wells, revealed during the show in July that costs had risen from 拢360,000 to 拢500,000.

The show's board of management chair, Dai Lewis, said at the time that the entire ring would be dug up and three feet of soil scraped off the top.