CRISiS talks were continuing into the night last night to try and save one of the biggest dance festivals ever to be staged in the region.

Controller of BBC Radio 1 Andy Parfitt gave Newcastle City Council until 6pm today to decide if a vital safety licence can be granted for the Love Parade, one of the country's major dance music parties planned for next Saturday.

If the Love Parade, a Radio 1 event expected to attract 250,000 clubbers, is cancelled, it could mean businesses in the city miss out on hundreds of thousands of pounds.

And leading city councillor, Liberal Democrat Greg Stone has slammed the council leaders saying it could leave the city looking ridiculous.

Police and Newcastle City Council were trying to find ways to meet the conditions laid down by the council's licensing committee.

The license should have been granted last week. Mr Parfitt said he had asked city council leader Tony Flynn to "bang a few heads together" in order to get safety issues sorted out in time for the festival next Saturday.

He said: "We have had to stop publicising this event. Time is critical. Stages have begun to be built and more money spent so we have to ask if there a real threat."

The council would not confirm what conditions had not been met but protestors said concerns had been raised about the number of parking places and stewarding levels. Councillor Flynn said the ultimate responsibility of the council was to ensure public safety but was hopeful the event would still go ahead.

Coun Stone said: "If this fails it will be down to bad planning."