Strict animal controls have been put in place at the Royal Welsh Show, as the event returns after last summer's foot-and-mouth crisis.

Most of rural Wales was devastated last year when the disease outbreak forced the show's cancellation, the first since the Second World War.

Princess Anne: Royal opening

The opening of Wales' premier agricultural show coincided with the publication on Monday of the final report into the crisis, which concluded that the government could have done more to prevent the scale of the outbreak.

News that the 2001 show would not be able to go-ahead was confirmed after the disease occurred at a neighbouring farm.

It was billed as the most difficult decision of the show's 100-year history.

On Monday, the gates of the showground at Llanelwedd, Builth Wells were re-opened to visitors by the Princess Royal.

The organisers hope to recoup some of the �400,000 lost because of last year's cancellation during the four-day event.

Stunned

Many exhibitors and farmers hope lessons from last year's crisis have been learned.

Farmer Audrey Breeze said the widespread culling of livestock had left many farmers stunned and some still questioned the action that was taken.

"In a disaster, very often you have too many chiefs and not enough indians," she said.

More than 200,000 visitors are expected to converge on the site during the four days of the show.

However, some farmers are complaining that some restrictions still in place on the movement of cattle have kept competitors away from the show.

Peter Smith: 'The losses of last year cannot be recovered'

The number of exhibitors in the sheep and cattle sections are down compared to the last Royal Welsh two years ago.

More than a million animals were slaughtered in Wales during the foot-and-mouth crisis so it is unavoidable that numbers are down according to the organisers.

Some restrictions are still in place for visitors.

Hotelier Peter Smith said the losses for businesses last year could never be recovered.

"The National Assembly decreed at the time that business conferences could not be held in mid Wales and that one circular cost 16 people their jobs," Mr Smith explained.

Disinfectant mats are being used, and contact with the animals on show is barred.

"We are asking people not to touch the animals," said chief executive David Walters.

Organisers hope the crowds will return

"There will be signs and we will be asking people to respect them - that will help us a great deal."

During the show, a Welsh-language book for children giving a farm girl's perspective on the disease crisis will be released.

O'r Lludw (From the Flames) by children's author Michael Morpurgo was translated into Welsh by former teacher Gwen Redvers Jones and published by west Wales printers Gomer.

The story is traumatic at times - the main character, Beca, describes her father's animals being shot.

On Sunday night, the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Rowan Williams, blessed the start of this year's show at a service in St Mary's Church in Builth Wells.