THE Royal Three Counties Show is now less than a week away and it promises to provide something for everyone - from farm animals, to deafening canon fire and things that are not of this world.

At the show, which opens this Friday (June 17) and runs through to Sunday (June 19), there will be many of the regular attractions which have made this event so popular over the years and which this year is expected to bring in crowds of close on 100,000 over the show’s three days at Malvern.

As well as the main ring events, regular livestock areas, trade stands, tug-of-war and sheep shearing competitions there will also be a chance for Harry Potter fans and Muggles alike to have the chance to try their hand at a game of Quidditch.

QuidditchUK, the national governing body for the sport, will host workshops and matches of the game made famous by JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series on Saturday in the event’s Sports Village, which is in association with Worcester Warriors.

Matches will welcome teams including the University of Bristol’s Brizzlepuffs and the University of Leicester’s Leicester Thestrals.

Ken Nottage, CEO of the Three Counties, said: “This is such an exciting element to be introducing to the show. Quidditch is the fastest growing mixed gender, full contact sport in the world and will bring a vibrant energy to the Sports Village”.

Matthew Wood, Outreach Manager for Quidditch UK, said: “We’re so excited to be sharing our love of Quidditch with visitors to this year’s Royal Three Counties Show. The sport is continuing to grow with over 32 QuidditchUK registered teams in the UK and more than 24 national teams globally, including teams from the UK, Uganda, USA, Peru, Australia and South Korea”.

He said Quidditch was an exciting mix of Rugby, Handball and Dodgeball, all while on a broomstick! Our unique workshops will invite visitors of all ages to learn about how the game works and it’s variety of exciting elements. Then with our match later in the day, visitors can see the elements they’ve learned in the workshop being put together into a high intensity, fast paced and dynamic match.”

The finest in farming will also come to the fore at this year’s show and will feature farmers and breeders from around the Bromsgrove, Droitwich, Redditch, and Alcester areas. as the rich heritage of British farming, alongside fine food and family entertainment is celebrated It’s the UK’s largest livestock and equine show and this year’s event is to be a momentous one for the show.

The Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery will be in attendance along with HRH Princess Royal. This will be the only opportunity to see the Kings Troop outside of London, fresh from performing at the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations at the weekend.  Elsewhere BBC Countryfile presenter and Cotswold’s farmer Adam Henson will be among some of the headline names at this year’s event.

  This year will also see record numbers of schools in attendance with over 3,500 children from over 60 schools in Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire paying a visit. This is double the figure from the previous year.