STAY AWAY! That's the message from the organisers of the New Forest Show, as the showground reaches bursting point.

People are being urged to stay away from the New Forest show because the car parks are full.

Two emergency car parks were opened to cope with the huge demand as long tailbacks built up on Forest roads.

Show secretary Denis Dooley said: "We are not full but we are advising people planning to visit the show today to come tomorrow instead.

"I didn't want people to sit in a queue for two hours and then not get a parking space.

"Tickets are not date specific so people can come tomorrow."

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Mr Dooley said traffic queues were already easing and he was confident the car parks would not reach capacity.

He added: "We have to make a decision before we become full. We can"t just shut the gates."

Mr Dooley said today's huge  crowd was due to a combination of good weather, the display by the Household Cavalry and the growing popularity of the show.

It is thought to be the first time in 15 years that officials have had to urge spectators to stay away.

Today's cooler conditions are thought to have contributed to the problem by deterring people from going to the beach instead.