THE DIY expert and home decorator's dream event kicks off at Southampton Guildhall today.

Organisers of the third Ideal Home Exhibition to be held in the city, are promising the biggest and best show with a huge range of things to buy, see and do.

The Daily Echo and Southern Property Advertiser-sponsored event, which runs until Sunday, features more than 150 exhibitors selling everything you could want for your home, from beds to bathrooms, kitchens to and security systems and driveways. And there's also a full programme of entertainment planned for each day of the show, starting today with a demonstration of winter containers and window boxes at 11am, followed at noon by a talk on crime prevention in the home by the police.

Then at 12.30pm, Yvonne Bell will demonstrate the art of painting on silk. At 1pm, Nancy King will give a talk on feng shui - to help you create an harmonious living space at home and work to improve your health, wealth and happiness.

Show manager John Bowle said: "At 1.30pm we've got a demonstration of microwave cookery, which is a great way of introducing people to the wonderful things microwaves can actually do. Sue Robinson does a demonstration daily which shows the microwave to its full potential.

"And to round off today's entertainment programme we've got a demonstration of sugar blowing by Southampton City College."

The event is open daily from 10am to 5pm, with entrance priced at £2.50 for adults, £1.50 for OAPs, and free for under-14s.

For more information call 01242 516738.