ORGANISERS of a three-day music festival due to feature troubled rocker Pete Doherty breathed a sigh of relief after being granted a licence to hold the event.

Objections surrounding the Moonfest festival, planned for August 29-31 at Storridge Farm in Westbury, meant the issue went before West Wiltshire District Council's sub-licensing committee yesterday.

Complaints had come from residents living near the festival site and campsite, who were worried about noise and anti-social behaviour.

Some attended the meeting along with a representative from Brokerswood Country Park, which is two fields away from the festival arena.

Councillors approved the licence subject to a string of conditions.

Sound levels are not allowed to exceed 65 decibels; festival times are restricted to 11am-2am on the Friday and Saturday; security patrols must cover Scotland, Ireland, The Ham and the nearby trading estate and noise levels must be checked at Brokerswood.

Festival organiser John Green, 46, assured councillors that security measures were in place for the event, which could involve up to 5,000 festivalgoers.

Mr Green, who runs a recording studio in Wiltshire, said: "We have employed a high quality security company that looks after Club Ice as they were considered most appropriate.

"They will be patrolling the festival site and there will be a patrol car on the West Wilts Industrial Estate at all times of the night."

The committee quizzed Mr Green about a range of issues.

Cllr Jeff Osborn asked whether a complaints hotline would be set up and if there were any helicopter landings planned, which would add to noise disturbance.

Mr Green said one person would be manning a phone line, and only one helicopter landing was planned.

Cllr Geoffrey Carr was assured security guards would be patrolling a public footpath which leads to and around the festival site.

He said: "I have visions of people who have had a few sherberts wandering the fields like refugees from an air crash."

Vivien Birch, who lives in Ireland, near the festival campsite, said: "We are not standing up against festivals and fun but we want everyone to be happy with the arrangements."

After the hearing, Mr Green said: "We are ecstatic, very happy that we have got it.

"Refreshingly one of the councillors told us that the level of work and standards we have achieved in gaining a licence are the equivalent that other festivals have taken 20 years to achieve."