A national genetics study- led by Oxford professors examining the historic patterns of people’s movements- will be continuing its extraordinary work at the County Show.

The ‘People of the British Isles’ study investigates how these patterns, from Anglo-Saxon invasions to those of the Vikings and Normans, may have an impact on 21st century medical science.

Funded by the Wellcome Trust, the study was launched in order to analyse the geographical variation in Britain’s genetic history and featured on Channel 4’s Face of Britain.

The project aims to collect 4,000 blood samples from people, whose parents and grandparents on both sides were born in the same rural locality, and eventually produce a genetic map of the UK.

Wales is a particularly important region in the study. From an archaeological point of view, the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings never made it into Wales, meaning that Wales is likely to be populated by people who have ancestry going back to the time of the Ancient Britons. Pembrokeshire is also particularly interesting because of its ‘Little England beyond Wales’ legacy.

Anyone aged over 18 matching the criteria can donate their DNA at the stand by giving a small sample of their blood. Individual results won’t be given out but general results of the study will be reported in a newsletter as they arise.