For the first time in more than 30 years of trading Trago Mills are to accept credit cards.

The company which has a shop in Falmouth and out of town centres in Liskeard and in Newton Abbott, Devon, will be breaking new ground when they exhibit for the first time at the rescheduled Royal Cornwall Show next month.

A cash or cheque only transaction was introduced by Trago founder Mike Robertson and continued by his son Bruce despite repeated calls by customers to think again as the demand for payment by plastic became greater and greater.

Now, with Trago Mills exhibiting for the first time at the Wadebridge showground, they have grasped the chance to made the change in a big way, not only with new style tills to allow the credit cards to be accepted but with a huge 10,000 sq ft marquee and 25 staff on site.

As "probably Cornwall's biggest retailer", store bosses admit they want to lend Trago's support to the county's major annual event and in particular to the show with new dates caused by the foot and mouth crisis.

Trago managers are now considering what stock to take along to the show on September 13-15.

Clothes, tools, garden equipment, saddlery and sports goods are likely candidates, and given the time of year, they say there may also be a sprinkling of Christmas products!

Group managing director Malcolm Sandbach said he and his family spent three days at the show each year and it had been his intention for some years to establish a Trago presence.

"After last year's show I talked to the organisers and fortunately they found us a big enough site. It is our first year so we might not get it right straight away but I certainly regard this as a good opportunity to do business," he said.

In June - when the show is usually staged - there is a noticeable "Royal Cornwall Show effect", he says.

"Last year, 113,000 people visited the show and that represents a quarter of Cornwall's population. That makes it one of the most successful county shows in the country and it is bound to have an effect on trade," he said.

Mr Sandbach expects a good turnout from the farming community. "It is a great shame that the livestock will not be around this year but I think the farming community will look at this as an opportunity to meet and catch up and have a good day out at the same time.

"And in general terms I think the entertainment programme put together for this year's show is absolutely superb so I expect the show will be a great success."