A ROCK festival that was due to attract crowds of up to 5,000 people later this month will not go ahead.

Herefordshire Council refused to consider an application to stage the Rock n Roots Festival at Much Marcle and therefore could not issue a licence.

The four-day event, which was due to take place over the August Bank Holiday weekend, had been extensively promoted with a line-up including some famous rock bands from the 70s and 80s, including The Animals and The Wurzels.

Herefordshire Council’s legal practice manager Kevin O’Keefe said: “Unfortunately the applicant failed to advertise his planned event in accordance with the requirements of law.

“This was further compounded by a combination of other errors he made in the application process.

“The committee needed to decide firstly whether or not the application had been properly made. They decided it had not.

“We are acutely aware of the disappointment that this decision will cause to many who have purchased tickets and looked forward to this event but, having fully considered this matter, have reached a decision that is consistent with previous decisions and within the relevant legalities.”

The applicant, Mike Stephens, now has a right of appeal.