A PAGAN music festival which drew protest from neighbours will go ahead at a different site.

Organisers of the Shamania Lugnasadh festival drew concerns from residents over potential noise, nuisance, anti-social behaviour and litter when it was planned to be staged on land at Delves Lane, above Southfield, Nelson.

But Adrian Lord, managing director of Enlightened Entertainments Ltd, the company presenting the three-day festival which begins on July 27 to coincide with the Pagan Lammas celebration, announced today that the event would now be held in Noggarth Hill, Roughlee.

The firm had investigated a number of potential sites for the festival after deciding that the site in Sawley, where the first festival was held last year, was no longer suitable because it had been used for a BNP rally.

Licensing applications were submitted to Pendle Council for Noggarth Hill and the Delves Lane site. A third application, for fields at Black Lane Ends, Colne, was withdrawn.

Mr Lord said: "Having received a premises licence to hold this year's Shamania Festival at two different locations within the borough of Pendle, the organisers have decided that the driest site is preferable, especially after the recent heavy rains.

"The field is still bone dry after the heavy downpour last week and the Noggarth site also affords a magnificent view of Pendle Hill, which is obscured at the other site.

"Residents of the villages of Spen Brook, Newchurch and Roughlee, are being offered the opportunity to come along and experience the festival free, upon production of identification at the gate."

Those who objected to the event being held at Delves Lane said they were relieved at the decision.

Pendle Council solicitor Peter Frost said: "All the licences are now in place. There were no objections to the event being held at Noggarth Hill and the event is fully cleared to go ahead."