THOUSANDS of people are expected to descend on Trowbridge Park for the biggest free show in the west.

The West Wilts Show 2003 runs from July 24 to 26 and will bring together people from all over west Wiltshire for three fun-packed days of entertainment.

Hundreds of exhibitors, a wide range of entertainers and some special features will form part of the popular extravaganza.

Michael Williams, the joint show chairman with Alison Irving, said: "The show is a celebration of the west Wiltshire community. An event of this size is no small undertaking, but the 2003 show promises to be the biggest and best yet."

The show, which is held every two years, boosts a packed timetable, including two evening concerts featuring tribute bands T-Rextasy and the Rollin' Clones.

Lookalikes led by Del Boy Trotter will perform the opening ceremony, supported by show patron and HTV presenter Peter Rowell.

To ensure the event starts on the right note teenager singer MiMi will perform on the main stage.

Other features will include a motor fair, flower show, village green area, fire safety display, live music and family entertainment.

Three purpose-built exhibition halls will be home to a range of local businesses and organisations and the Civic Hall will host the hospitality area and a programme of demonstrations organised by the Wiltshire Times one of the show's main sponsors.

These will include a healthy lifestyle exhibition and the launch of our Slim and Trim campaign.

Wiltshire Times' marketing manager Louise Keenan said: "We felt that nowadays more people want to be healthy and fit so we thought this would be an ideal exhibition to hold and a good time to launch our campaign."

Additional marquees will be run by the town councils of all five of west Wiltshire's towns and by the village of Dilton Marsh.

A new feature this year will be the French market, which will be held every day from 9am to 5pm in Fore Street.

The market, organised by Marche de France, will involve 24 traders from Normandy and Brittany selling a range of products including breads, cheeses, wines, garlic and cold meats.

A free park and ride service will run regularly from a site off West Ashton Road, Trowbridge, to the Tesco bus stop.

The West Wilts Show, launched in 1989, has grown in size and popularity with more than 100,000 people passing through the gates in 2001.