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 Β£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 Β£360,000 to Β£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.