Lee Bennett, pictured with Suggs, said safety had to be the priority

PLANS for a grand open air music festival in the streets of Camden Town have been spiked at the last minute.

The Camden Music Festival was due to see performances in Camden High Street, Buck Street, Hawley Crescent and Buck Street across this weekend, but now there will be just one stage set up close to the The Good Mixer pub in Inverness Street.

Organisers said they had been hit by uncertainty caused by tube strikes and two rallies – the Unite The Kingdom march and an anti-racism demonstration – in central London on Saturday.

Lee Bennett from the festival said these events had presented “significant challenges to safely deliver the festival in its original multi-location format”, adding there had been discussions with the council and police.

“Reducing the scale means we can guarantee a safe and manageable environment, whilst still delivering a very memorable event albeit smaller,” he said.

The changes leaves the Camden Rising stage still in place with a famous secret headliner booked for Sunday. It will be free for people to watch through both days of the weekend. Refunds for special tickets at the other stages are being issued.

Mr Bennett said he shared the disappointment felt by those looking forward to the festival but added: “The safety and wellbeing of residents, businesses, artists, suppliers, he Metropolitan Police, Camden Council, and most importantly our attendees, must remain our highest priority.”