A FESTIVAL which hopes to become Dorset's answer to Glastonbury could see thousands of people descending on the border of Dorset and Wiltshire if planners give the go-ahead.

Despite being postponed by a month after hopes of holding it on the site of the Great Dorset Steam Fair were dashed, organisers refused to give up and are trying to secure the Larmer Tree Gardens on the Rushmore Estate, near Tollard Royal, as an alternative venue.

The all-night Freedom Festival planned for October 16 promises top names in the world of dance music including Erick Morillo, Sonique, Danny Rampling, Ratpack and Miss Behavin' and event organiser Nick Whitbread hopes to attract an audience of around 15,000 people.

He said: "We've chosen this site because there have been big music events here in the past. We're notifying people who live in the hamlets nearby and they'll be offered the chance to go and stay in hotels if they are concerned about noise.

"The licence application has been submitted and we hope we won't come up against the same problems as we did last time. We're determined for the event to go ahead.

"We're working with the highways depart-ment to organise a one way system around the site."

As well as live music there will be drinks tents, bungee jumping, street performing, a fun fair and food from around the world.

Money raised at the festival will go to the Willow Foundation - a charity organising days out for seriously ill young adults.

North Dorset District Council is will consider whether to grant the festival a licence to go ahead at a meeting on October 8. They have not received any public objections.

For further details on the festival visit www.freedomfestival.co.uk

First published: September 17