Balmoral Show Looms

Louise Lowther, 4, and Robin Morrow, RUAS President are seen here getting a closer look at some of the animals that will be at the Children's Farm during the Balmoral Show next month where the cream of Ireland's livestock, will be blended with the colour and texture of the country's top exhibitors, with an added pinch of competitive spirit, to make Northern Ireland's largest agricultural show an action-packed three days of agricultural and entertainment excellence. The 2010 Balmoral Show - in partnership with Ulster Bank - promises to be another exceptional event with a high standard of livestock, trade stands and numerous new attractions. Running from Wednesday 12th May to Friday 14th May (8.30 - 8.00 pm daily) the Show will see over 450 companies exhibiting and almost 600 livestock classes.

Mossley Hit By Violence

There were stones and fireworks thrown during disturbances in Newtownabbey on Tuesday night. Several youths threw the missiles from the New Mossley Estate onto the Ballyclare Road around 10pm.

Election On Way

All politicians in Northern Ireland are hitting the campaign trail after Gordon Brown's formal request to the Queen that Parliament be dissolved. He travelled from Downing Street to Buckingham Palace on Tuesday morning ahead of an announcement in the House of Commons, confirming the date of the General Election as 6 May 2010. The meeting with the Queen lasted just 20 minutes and Mr Brown later said outside Number 10 how the monarch "kindly" agreed to the dissolution of Parliament.

Secure Vote

Voters in Northern Ireland could be denying themselves the opportunity to vote in the UK General Election on 6 May because they are not on the electoral register, warns the Electoral Commission, the independent elections watchdog. "Voters only have until 20 April to make sure they are registered," said Séamus Magee, Head of the Electoral Commission's office in Northern Ireland. "If you're not on the register, you can't vote. Many people don't realise that if they changed address, they need to update details"

Harper Boss Speaks

David Llewellyn - the newly appointed principal at Harper Adams - is flying into Northern Ireland for three days next week. As part of the programme for his visit he will be holding public meetings in Ballymena and Enniskillen and will be giving presentations at 8pm each evening at the Adair Arms Hotel, Ballymena on Thursday the 15th, and at the Killyhevlin Hotel, Enniskillen, the following evening, Friday April 16th. The presentations will focus on Harper Adams, the courses and the student community and culture. The meetings will be an opportunity for prospective students interested in animal, food and other related land based degree and diploma courses and their parents and guests to hear about Harper at first hand, to talk with the principal directly over tea and biscuits and to meet current students.

Industrial Drills Stolen

Thieves have stolen industrial drills and other equipment during a break-in in County Antrim. The BBC has reported that the intruders forced their way into the industrial plant at Moira Road, in Glenavy, on Monday night and made off with equipment worth between £5,000 and £10,000. Police have appealed for anyone with information, or who noticed any suspicious activity in the area, to contact them.

Ballymena Cleaned-Up

SDLP North Antrim MLA Declan O'Loan has praised Ballymena Town Centre Partnership for its work in tidying up and painting a number of derelict buildings in the town centre. He said: "This is very good work which was led by Town Centre Manager Sean Trainor. There are several buildings around which are an eyesore, and it is good to see a number of these well painted up. In the present uncertain economic environment, redevelopment of these sites can be slow and so the problem is the greater. While this progress is very good, I believe that a better long-term solution is required."

(BMcC/GK)