TRADERS were looking forward to a brisk time at the Suffolk Show as day two of the event got underway today.Worth an estimated £20 million to the Suffolk economy traders have reported better than expected commercial activity so far.

TRADERS were looking forward to a brisk time at the Suffolk Show as day two of the event got underway today.

Worth an estimated £20 million to the Suffolk economy traders have reported better than expected commercial activity so far.

Run by the Suffolk Agricultural Association (SAA) thousands are expected to flock to the Suffolk Showground, now renamed Trinity Park, for the final day of the show.

Rob Thurkettle of Newmarket based John Deere Agricultural Machinery dealership Ben Burgess said his sales team had sold a range of equipment including a £55,000 tractor yesterday.

He added: “Trade has been better than expected and brisk especially in construction equipment and lawn mowers.

The weather looks like it will be slightly better today so we are looking forward to more trading. We are a Suffolk based company and many of our customers come to the show.”

Suffolk car dealership Lookers, which won best motor stall at the show, reported selling a Jaguar car with a considerable interest in its LandRover and Volvo models already expressed.

Marketing manager Dougie Dingwell said: “The Suffolk Show is one of the major events of the year for us. It is very important on the county's social calendar and attracts the sort of people who buy our cars. It's unusual to sell a car at the show but we are delighted and we are very pleased with the levels of interest.”

The show, which was officially opened by the Duke of Gloucester yesterday, has a huge variety of attractions including flower displays, rural crafts, trade stands, livestock, show jumping and a dog show.

In the ever-popular food tent Westhorpe based caterer Heather Wilkinson said she had sold several hundred strawberries and cream pavlovas.

Speaking to the Evening Star as she set up her stall this morning Mrs Wilkinson added: “The show is a lovely way to see old friends and meet up with new people, I'm very much looking forward to today.”

No official figures have yet been released on visitor numbers but it was estimated about 95,000 people would visit the event. Twenty-four-year old steward Oliver Hurlock, a farmer from Easton, was today working on the Ipswich car park gate. He said: “We are expecting it to be a bit busier than yesterday, the weather might have put a few people off yesterday but it is going to be warmer today.”