A CONTROVERSIAL festival dedicated to legalising marijuana was effectively closed early today due to high winds.

A record number of well over 500 people had attended the third Teesside Cannabis Club (TCC) festival at Redcar Rugby Club on Friday and Saturday.

But strong winds in the early hours of Sunday and during the day blew down tents and vendors' stalls and by the time music acts had finished in the late afternoon only about 30 people were still there.

Called Canna Campfest, the pro-legalisation event had caused Cleveland Police to warn that they would intervene if any illegality took place.

Organiser, John Holliday, also said that Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's licensing department had been in touch to express concerns the day before the no-alcohol festival.

He said: "But the fact is we're not doing anything illegal. This is an education al awareness event. It's about raising understanding that this natural plant is often better than what the pharmaceutical companies produce. We have all kinds of people here, from disabled people, working people, pensioners, old and young. There's all kinds of people. It's a really positive event."

Mr Holliday explained he liaised with the authorities ahead of the event.

Before the festival, Redcar Neighbourhood Inspector Guy Hall, of Cleveland Police, said: "In-line with any event, if offences take place we will respond appropriately.”

However it's not thought there was any police intervention.

Cannabis use remains illegal.