A chance for youngsters to get a taste of food, farming and the countryside at the Spring Fling at the Norfolk showground includes even more attractions.

A chance for youngsters to get a taste of food, farming and the countryside at the Spring Fling at the Norfolk showground includes even more attractions.

The seventh annual event, which is designed for visitors aged between four and 14, will be held on Thursday, April 12, by the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association and the EDP.

More than 60 displays, including hands-on demonstrations, will be staged in the exhibition building and also outside in the expanded countryside area.

There will be a large number of working displays, including sausage-making, milking cows and even a chance to help a ewe produce her (artificial) lamb.

In the main hall, farmers and growers will talk about growing peas - and there will be the opportunity to taste "pea fudge and pea ice cream" made by volunteers from the Norfolk Federation of Women's Institutes.

The popular tractor and trailor rides around the showground will again be a feature as teams of farmers transport visitors to the countryside area. Tractors and trailers will run throughout the day from 9am to about

3.30pm. There is also a trailer for wheelchair visitors.

One of the organisers, Kerry Trigg-Dudley, has also designed an activity book for the youngsters, which includes information about food and farming and picture quizzes and colouring pages.

In the countryside area, there will be displays of rare farm animals, including several heavy horses, with a mare and foal, plus some Haflingers provided for the occasion by Norfolk farmer Tom Crane, who imported the breed from its native Austria.

Other displays will be staged by the Raptor Trust, the Mid-Norfolk Gundogs and the Prison Service drug sniffer dogs.

Norfolk gamekeepers will be talking about how game birds are reared and protected from vermin and other pests, and youngsters can also take part in a fly-fishing demonstration or air rifle target shooting.

Richard Savory's Norfolk sheep show also makes a welcome return.

A total of 4,000 tickets at £4.50 each are available, which must be obtained in advance. Tickets will not be sold on the gate. The price includes a hog roast lunch and a free drink.

All visitors must be accompanied by a responsible adult and

should bring along a pen or pencil.

Tickets are available on

week days from the EDP's Prospect House head office in Norwich or EDP offices at Yarmouth, Gorleston, King's Lynn, Beccles, Thetford, Diss, Cromer and Lowestoft.

The EDP's Millennium Plain office is also open on Saturday from 9am-2pm. Alternatively go online at www.edp24.co.uk/shop or visit the RNAA's office at the showground (weekdays) from

9am -5pm.