Thousands are expected to start heading for the Kent County Show as it opens its doors today.

The show attracts around 80,000 people each year to sample its 300 competitions and activities in a rural life and Kent showcase.

With world renowned displays on the ground and in the air, animals, mouthwatering produce and entertainment for all ages, there's something for everyone among the 400 exhibitors and 300 competitions and activities over the three action-packed days, with the first kicking off this morning.

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Riding in as headliners will be the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment who will be showcasing a display of the Regiment’s world class horsemanship. Dressed in full state ceremonial uniform, they will show their precise battlefield and ceremonial manoeuvres, carried out to music.

They join a line-up of prize-winning livestock, food and drink from across the county and live music and displays of countryside pursuits from traditional skills to technology in farming.

Keep your eyes peeled for a range of spectacular sights, including the popular Spirit of Kent Spitfire, which will be staging flypasts at lunchtime each day, with commentary and crowd-pleasing robot Titan who will be making an exhibition of himself on Saturday and Sunday at 10.30am and 12.30pm at the main gate and at 3pm at the corner of Alan Day House.

Chairman of organisers the Kent County Agricultural Society, Kevin Attwood, said: "This will be our 89th show and we work hard to showcase the very best that Kent has to offer.

The Household Cavalry Musical Ride is one of the best mounted displays in Britain, if not the world."

This year marks the centenary of the end of the First World War 100 years and the Armistice and the showground will, in partnership with the Royal British Legion, host the Every One Remembered sculpture. The 7 metre tall Centenary Soldier stands on a limestone plinth sourced from the Somme and is encased in a Perspex obelisk, surrounded by hundreds of fluttering poppies, in a moving point of remembrance.

Visitors can make a donation at the Royal British Legion stand, and add a poppy to the sculpture. A display of poppies will also be hosted with Nucleus Arts, handcrafted by local people, inside the Garden Life Marquee.

Besides the arena displays and grand parade of livestock in the Astor Ring at 2.30pm on all three days, there's a host of fun activities, including a traditional fairground, next to Entrance 5, four free Punch and Judy shows a day for the kids in the Heritage Area, free pony rides in the Country, Game and Canine Area, and the chance to see how your pet pooch squares up to the dock jumping area by K9 Aqua Sports.

For those bitten by the World Cup bug, you can head to the KM Media Group stand, which has teamed up with Gillingham Football Club for a Target Challenge and Kick Up Challenge. Kids can play the games and pick up a free goody bag with a KM paper, which includes a handy bottle of water, bookmark, animal mask or bug.

This year, show organisers have also teamed up with Kent Wildlife Trust to encourage more plastic recycling. There will be plastic recycling points across the showground and on the trust's stand 449 and in the Woodland Area.

DETAILS

The Kent County Show, organised by the Kent County Agricultural Society, is on Friday, July 6, Saturday, July 7 and Sunday, July 8 at the Kent Showground at Detling near Maidstone.

Ticket are £23 on the gate, £7 for children on the gate and £50 for a family on the gate. Under fives go free and parking is free. To book, call 01622 633060 or visit kentshowground.co.uk/visit/buy-your-ticket