THE landlady of a Wimborne pub has defended her decision to host late-night music over the folk festival weekend - despite opposition from town councillors.

Organisers of the internationally-famous event say some performers refuse to take part because of the night-time atmosphere in the town.

But Annmarie McCarthy, who runs the Albion in the High Street, said pubs could not be held responsible for the behaviour of some revellers.

Ms McCarthy spoke out after East Dorset licensing chiefs gave local pubs evening entertainment licences for the festival weekend which takes place between Friday, June 10 and Sunday, June 12.

Wimborne Town Council opposed the Albion's application, claiming the music played in pub marquees encouraged an unruly element into the town, who had been responsible for drunkenness, noise and antisocial behaviour in recent years.

But Ms McCarthy said she had not received any complaints about noise or behaviour in the three years she had been at the pub.

She said: "The bands appearing at public houses on the Friday night have always been at the discretion of the licensee. For the Saturday night we choose groups from a list compiled with the folk festival organisers.

"What I cannot be held responsible for is how the minority choose to behave. If they didn't have the evening entertainment there would be more problems out on the streets."

Bands will be allowed to play until 11pm on both nights. Other pubs hosting entertainment will be the Cricketers, the White Hart and the Rising Sun.

For many years, organisers of the festival have said that the unruly element in the town during the weekend were neither there for the festival, nor part of it.

Maria Bisp, who is co-ordinating this year's event, said: "We are concerned that it turns from a nice family folk festival in the day into something else in the evening. We even have teams of performers who will not come because of the night-time atmosphere."

"Our outdoor events finish at 6pm on Saturday and 5pm on Sunday and the music played in pub marquees during the evenings is not part of the festival."

Folk festival evening events are, in the main, held at the Allendale Centre.

First published: May 18