The popular Kent County Show will celebrate half a century at its current home this year.

And to mark the occasion, the patron of the Kent County Agricultural Society, which organises the event, HRH the Duke of Kent, will be opening the show on its first day.

The Duke will be visiting the Kent Showground in Detling on Friday, July 11, and among his duties will be officially opening the new Maidstone Exhibition Hall, a 3,000sq metre building which can hold 4,900 people.

He will then be guest of honour at the president's lunch, with Lady Astor of Hever, who became society president after her husband, Lord Astor of Hever, stood down.

He will then tour the show, visiting farming sections and heritage vehicles. He became patron of the society in 1975 and has been a firm supporter over the decades, attending a number of times, the last of which was in 2011.

The show runs from Friday, July 11, until Sunday, July 13.

Family tickets are £37 pre-paid, for two adults and two children, and £45 on the gate. Adult tickets cost £20 on the gate, or £18 in advance, and a child ticket is £6 on the gate or £5 in advance.