THE Royal Three Counties Show got underway at Malvern today with the attendance figure on the way up including one from a special visitor, the Environment Secretary, Michael Gove.

This was Mr Gove’s first public appearance in his new role and the former education secretary, who was joined by the West Worcestershire MP Harriet Baldwin set about addressing the local farming community's concerns about the forthcoming Brexit process and how they would affect the the rural economy.

The show, which continues over the weekend until Sunday is expected to attract around 100,000 visitors.

It is now the country's biggest equine and livestock event - with livestock not only from the three local counties of Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, but also much further afield with a number from Scotland and Wales.

Mr Gove, who met with a number of local farmers and NFU representatives, responded initially to criticism about his performance as education secretary by insisting that he is not chasing popularity.

He said: "I just want to do the right thing and for me the most important thing in this new role is not to chase after popularity, but to listen, to follow the evidence, to do the right thing and to be capable of defending your decisions.”

He added: ”We need to make sure that our rural economy can be made stronger and also above all that our environment can be enhanced."

He acknowledged farmers' concerns about losing Common Agricultural Policy subsidies and reiterated the Tory manifesto pledge to continue current levels of agricultural support up to 2022.

"The first thing we need to do is listen to those at the sharp end and learn from them how we can improve the current allocations and delivery of support," he said.

Mr Gove said that the Government would consult with all sectors after being asked about farmers' access to migrant labour from Eastern Europe.

And he stressed: "I'm determined to make sure that the rural economy continues to have the flexibility and access to the people it needs to stay economically ahead of the game.

"I think it's important that we don't at this stage pre-empt things David Davis will achieve over the course of negotiations.”

He warned that it would be wrong for him - at this stage - to intrude into that important conversation but more will be revealed during the course of those talks.

As for his hosts, the county and the show, the MP said: “Malvern is a beautiful part of the country” and he went on to praise Mrs Baldwin as an 'outstanding minister and a fantastic constituency MP'.

Also at the show was the Bishop of Worcester and se shared a message of hope for farmers who are nervous about their future.

The Rt Rev Dr John Inge said: "We shall always need food, there might be anxieties but farmers will always have a job."

He added that as a former president of the show he has seen how it can bridge the gap between rural and urban life.

The show, as usual, features numerous trade stands, a whole host of attractions in the main ring such as the Red Devils Parachute Team, the Bulldog Lings motorcycle display team, hot air balloons, heavy horses, showjumping, carriage driving, the parade of hounds from a local hunt and the always popular grand parade of livestock.

Livestock entries including a sizeable number from the Bromsgrove, Droitwich, Redditch and Alcester areas.

Officials said that today’s lunchtime attendance was well up on last year’s figure when the opening day was hit by wet weather