THE organiser of an unlicensed weekend music festival has gone ahead with the event, even though he faces prosecution.

Hundreds of music lovers were arriving yesterday at the Thimbleberry Music Festival, which started last night at isolated Thimbleby Hill Farm, above Stanhope, County Durham.

Police told organiser Andy Norman last week to cancel the event, but he said then it was already too late. However, senior officers ruled out using force to stop it going ahead.

Without the licence, Mr Norman is not supposed to play music, stage entertainment or allow alcohol to be served.

He met licensing officers from Wear Valley District Council last Friday and on Wednesday, but failed to reach an agreement because of his wish to play disco music after the live acts end at 11.45pm. The council has told him he is allowed only background music during the night.

Singers, bands and comedy acts from Britain, Europe and the US have been booked for the festival, which attracted 800 visitors last year.

People living near the farm were among objectors to Mr Norman's licence application, first submitted in April.

He sent the council extra information and resubmitted the request on May 11, to be told it would be heard on July 5 - almost two weeks after the event.

He said this week: "I just have to carry on regardless. People are here already and £30,000 has been invested in setting the festival up.

"We are determined to go ahead whatever happens. I have had two meetings with the council which have failed to resolve the situation. I have had threats of legal action.

"The main stage finishes at 11.45pm, and we have all-night cafés with recorded music.

"If people have nothing to do, it might cause problems."

Inspector George Ledger, from Crook, said: "We will look towards prosecuting the organisers next week.

"There have been objections to the licence from people living in the area and anyone affected should contact police or environmental health officers at the council to register their complaint."

Tom Carver, the council's head of public protection, said that at the meeting it had not been possible to resolve all the issues raised by the objectors.

He added: "Monitoring will take place with a view to taking appropriate action, possible involving legal proceedings.

"The police have advised that any attempt to stop the event taking place at this late stage would involve large numbers of officers and could result in serious public disorder."