Police have warned that caravans traveling to the Royal Welsh Show will be removed from the roads if they are not deemed fit for purpose.

Dyfed-Powys Police is asking those planning on taking camper vans to the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd, near Builth Wells, next week to make sure it is safe and roadworthy.

In some cases, the show is the only time fans will be use their motor-homes which can lead to caravans in desperate need of repair being taken on a road trip with no real consideration of whether it is safe to use.

Officers have issued advice on how to make sure caravans are “fit for purpose” during the countdown to the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show, which is now in its 100th year, which opens on Monday, July 22.

Caravan safety advice:

Check your driving licence. Do you have the correct category to tow?Number plates must be fitted to the rear of the caravan. They must comply with the regulations and not be hand-written in pen on canvas or written on a piece of paper or cardboardEnsure brakes and external lights are working correctlyCheck wheels, tyres, wheel bearings and suspension are in good condition. This is particularly important if the caravan has been stationary for some timeTyres should be all the same type and size, and have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm. You should also check the pressure

Chief Inspector Andy Pitt said: “We see a high number of Royal Welsh Show visitors staying in touring caravans. Some bring caravans which I’m amazed even make the journey to the end of the road.

“This may be a cost-effective way for people to enjoy the full duration of what the Royal Welsh Show has to offer, but in all seriousness it could come with a high price if the condition of the caravan were to cause a collision or cause some sort of incident on the caravan site.

“I strongly advise people to make sure their caravans are in a suitable condition to make the journey to Builth Wells.

“We will be carrying out spot checks on caravans making their way to the show and if defects are found, we could seize the caravan for everyone’s safety.”