Committee members are hoping for a bumper turnout this year after the 2007 event had to be cancelled at the last minute.

Outbreaks of bluetongue disease in the Peterborough area forced the show organisers to put their plans on hold for 12 months to protect Rutland's livestock.

But on Wednesday (November 26) farmers will be back from across the whole of the East Midlands for one of the highlights in the rural calendar.

And it will be a milestone event with female judges taking the reins for the first time.

Caldecott farmer Andrew Brown, who will be taking part, said: "Uppingham's is the only fat stock show in the country which is still held in the town market square amongst the shops and shoppers.

"And this year is even more unique as we have three lady stock judges for the first time and the chief guest and prize giver is Baroness Byford.

"This former male bastion is finally being taken over by the ladies."

The show was first held in the town in 1889 and this year's event will be the 102nd in Uppingham. It was also cancelled in 2002 because of outbreaks of foot and mouth disease.

Alison Pratt, spokesman for the National Farmers Union in Uppingham, said: "After the doom and gloom of bluetongue last year and the event having to be cancelled, everyone is really pleased that it is back.

"The fat stock show is a lovely sociable occasion for people to get together and show off the wonderful stock we have.

"It's a showcase for farmers all over the area and a real draw to the town.

"The show is quite an unusual thing to come across if you're not expecting it, but there will be some beautiful animals on show. It's a wonderful historic event and I hope everyone will return to support it."

The regular weekly fatstock market finished in 1954, with the ending of wartime controls, but the annual Fatstock Show has continued and remains one of the most prestigious events in the town's calendar.

There are classes for cattle, sheep and pigs, and this year's entries remain strong with 17 cattle (15 haltered), 144 sheep and 18 pigs forward.

The judges are Sharron Plant of Stoke-on Trent (cattle), Ursula Taylor of Driffield (sheep) and Christine Vaughan of Nuneaton (pigs).

Judging will begin at 10am; prizes will be awarded to the amount of £415 and the presentation of challenge cups and special prizes will take place at approximately 11.30am, followed by the auction.

The event takes place in Market Place, Uppingham, from 9am. The show committee will also donate a Christmas tree to the town and gather for lunch at The Falcon Hotel.