A MIXTURE of new attractions and old favourites has been line up for this weekend's Netley Marsh Steam and Craft Show.

The event starts today (Friday) and continues tomorrow and Sunday. And, because of all the attractions being lined up, it will have a second arena for the first time. There's even a circus, with Cirque de Normandy bringing its mixture of unicycles, rolling globes, clowns and slapstick and throwing in workshops for good measure.

Also new are the Waterside Junior Motorcycle Club, with their blend of skill, talent and nerve and superb control over their machines. And it will be eyes towards the sky for the third newcomer, high-diving escapologist, Mark Stannage, who will be doing a "down to earth" routine with a daring display of a Once again, there will be an impressive line-up of 35 steam engines, as well as stationary barn engines, fairground organs, fire engines, vintage tractors, lorries, cars, vans and motorcycles.

A further new addition will be a food hall, with a wide variety of merchandise including cheeses, pickles, some made fudge and some of the more general food products.

The long-established craft show will be there again, as will the bars, refreshment areas and trade stands, with musical entertainment being provided by the Ringwood Pipe Band, the Winton Steel Band and the Plonkers. Adding to the fun for children will be face painting, a Punch and Judy Show and Winnie the Witch.

Originally the Netley Marsh Steam Rally, the show has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for local good causes since it was launched in 1971. It went through a difficult spell last year because of a fall in the attendance on the Sunday, but has been put back on a sound footing by its eight directors and three big sponsors, Events Bar Management, Premier Foods.

"Without the rescue package and the support of these new sponsors, it would have been very difficult to run the show," said secretary, Tony Greenham, who is hoping for an improvement in the weather after a long run of showers so far this summer.

"Nice and dry and not too hot - that would be ideal. The wet weather we've has got the showground into wonderful condition, but when it's all happening, we need it to be dry," he said.