Dry spell sees festival ban some barbecues

Disposable and charcoal barbecues will not be permitted at this year's Kendal Calling festival due to dry weather leaving grass there at risk of setting fire.

The annual music event returns to Lowther Deer Park, near Penrith, from Thursday to Sunday with about 40,000 people expected as Biffy Clyro, Wolf Alice, Two Door Cinema Club and The Kooks headline.

Organisers say there has been "plenty of sunshine recently, leaving the ground incredibly dry and the grass well and truly parched".

Some gas camping stoves and gas barbecues will be allowed as they can be switched off after cooking rather than being left to cool down.

A lack of rain has left some of the grass looking "closer to straw", fans were told in an update, and so the two types of barbecue have been banned "to help keep everyone safe".

Organisers warned disposable and charcoal models can "stay hot for hours and are much more likely to be left unattended".

"With conditions this dry, we just can't take the risk," they added.

Gas camping stoves and gas barbecues are permitted to be taken, provided they use gas canisters of 240g or less.

First staged in 2006 at a site near Kendal, the event initially attracted about 900 people but has grown to become well-known on the festival calendar.

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