Scientists probing the genetic make-up of the typical person from Northern Ireland are enlisting the help of farmers at the Balmoral Show.

A team of researchers from Oxford University is drawing up a genetic map for different regions of the British Isles — an ambitious scheme that will show how waves of invasions by Anglo-Saxons and Vikings changed the DNA profile of the original inhabitants.

Anonymous blood samples taken by the team will also be used by scientists seeking the genetic basis that makes people vulnerable to 20th century diseases such as cancer and diabetes. The project was highlighted in the Channel 4 TV programme Face of Britain last year.

The farmers visiting Ireland’s biggest agricultural show could play a crucial role in completing the jigsaw of the Wellcome Trust-funded project, which requires blood samples to be collected from 3,500 people throughout the UK.

Researcher Tammy Day said: “We are having tremendous difficulty in recruiting volunteers for our study from Northern Ireland.

“Northern Ireland is of great importance to the study to finalise our genetic jigsaw. We have decided to travel there with our Professor, Sir Walter Bodmer, to the agricultural show in the hope of recruiting volunteers.

The scientists will be collecting blood at the Nugent Hall at the Balmoral Show, stand number 95 in the King’s Hall complex on May 13 -15. Anyone willing to volunteer can contact Tammy between 9am and 8pm at 01865 863819 or tammy.day@clinpharm.ox.ac.uk.