Being prepared for floods will be a key theme at this year's Yorkshire Show. 

One of the main items featured will be the pioneering FloodSax sandless sandbag which is miraculously transformed from looking like a large pillowcase to being stronger than a traditional sandbag in just three minutes. 

To do that simply add water which the FloodSax's special gelling polymer absorbs and this will be demonstrated at the show by staff from Harrogate Borough Council. 

Visitors will also have the chance to win FloodSax throughout the show which runs from Tuesday, July 11 until Thursday, July 13. 

Harrogate Council emergency planning manager Ian Speirs said: “We now have around 500 FloodSax ready for when we need them. We have a couple of packs in our cars to give to people in an emergency.” 

He said North Yorkshire has been hit hard by flooding in recent years, especially places such as York, Boroughbridge, Knaresborough, Ripon and Pateley Bridge. 

Ian added: “We are a county that's used to flooding.” 

And he revealed another use for FloodSax – they are ideal at soaking up floods and leaks inside homes and businesses. 

“We used them in our own computer server room when water got in,” he said. 

FloodSax will be on a stand called Prepared? which will show people the importance of being ready in advance, especially in flood risk areas.

It is stand number 450 on Avenue J. 

Across the three days of the show the stand will also give people the chance to win a visit to a fire station, visit RAF Leeming, a boat trip in York, a visit to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, various Met Office goodies and a home emergency grab bag. 

Apart from demonstrating how FloodSax work the Prepared? stand will also show how rest centres are set up and operate for people forced out of their homes by flooding.

 The Environment Agency will have an interactive flood model so people can see how changes to the environment affect the impact of floods.