The show maintained its run since 1989 of topping 200,000 visitors

Gate receipts were down �447,000 on last year but losses could have hit �4m if the show had been cancelled, said the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society.

The four-day show had an attendance of 200,000 visitors in the worst weather since 1958, said the society.

It added that "lessons have been learned" about putting contingencies in place for poor weather.

The Royal Welsh figures were revealed by the chairman of the board of management, David Lewis, to members of the society's council at Builth Wells.

He said cancellation of the show was never on the agenda "despite the prophets of doom from the media".

Mr Lewis said: "To cancel Wales' premier agricultural and rural event was unthinkable and would have been catastrophic for the nation.

The puddle-strewn main ring bore the brunt of the bad weather

"The society's contribution to the rural economy is now some �40m per annum with approximately �25m of that figure emanating from the show."

He said he hoped the "quagmire" parking conditions were a "one-off" but said he would be happier if the parking areas owned by the society had permanent roads.

Although the attendance at the 2007 show fell from last year's 240,140, officials have said the figure was typical since 1989, when it first hit 200,000 visitors.