This year's Royal Norfolk Show was the best I have seen.
There was something for everyone: first-class livestock, rural pastimes, hi-tech machinery and special events.

My day started at the Best Primitive Pig Breed judging arena followed by the cattle and sheep sections.

The nearby Food Hall proved a great attraction. Superb local produce included Norfolk-grown tomatoes packaged by Tesco with the grower's name clearly labelled. It is good to see a supermarket supporting local producers. I hope they keep it up.

I had an interesting discussion with the Country Land And Business Association about the economic and environmental impact of the Government's right to roam proposals on coastal areas.

Lively sculptures made from re-cycled waste on the Young Farmers stand were great fun while Easton College showed the breadth of its excellent courses for students of all ages.
The show was still buzzing with lots of visitors late in the day.

ON THE BUSES

I recently visited the impressive new Diss headquarters of Simonds Coach and Travel.

This is a big investment in state-of-the-art facilities by Simonds, and I am pleased to see this family-run local company showing such commitment to Diss. Simonds employs nearly 90 people, making it one of the larger employers in the area.

Managing director Martyn Simonds told me that all coaches and HGVs must comply with stringent emissions standards by 2010 within London Mayor Ken Livingstone's London Emission Zone.

Out of Simond's present fleet, only about six or seven coaches can be converted to comply, at a cost of between £2,500 to £5,000 per vehicle. A new coach, which lasts 25 years, costs a staggering £250,000.

I have written to the transport minister asking why companies such as Simonds have to send so much paperwork to Government that it requires a full-time member of staff to cope.

HEALTH MATTERS

LOCAL health chiefs have now replied to my request that they rethink their plans to axe drivers for district nurses on call at night.

They tell me they are carrying out a "comprehensive risk assessment".

Why waste more money? Surely it's obvious that nurses travelling alone at night are at risk. I shall keep on the case.

Amid the gloom of further health service cuts, it was good to hear that plans for the new £2 million health centre at Diss have received backing from local health officials.

I congratulate Dr Ian Hume, whom I met recently, and his colleagues for their persistence and for putting up their own money to ensure the scheme can go ahead.