Flares warning as Yorkshire youngsters head to Leeds Fest
The MP for Selby is warning against the use of flares at Leeds Festival as he continues his campaign to get them banned from gigs.
As young people from Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire arrive at Bramham Park for the start of Leeds Festival today - there are warnings about the use of flares.
Selby MP Nigel Adams has reiterated his calls for them to be banned from music festivals, including Leeds.
The local MP has been leading a campaign for a change in the law.
It's as increasing numbers of fans have been seriously injured by flares, fireworks and smoke bombs at gigs in recent years.
Mr Adams told Viking:
"Think about the people around you, it's not big, it's not clever. Everybody likes to have a good time at music events but to be using flares and fireworks in the audiences is highly dangerous.
"These are things that burn up to 1500 to 2000 degrees celcius and cause serious injury. A couple of years ago across the British festival and music scene, there were over 255 recorded incidents of people getting injured through the use of flares and fireworks.
“Music audiences deserve the same protection under the law as sports fans.
"This measure has support across the board: from fans wanting to focus on the music, performers wanting to put on a good uninterrupted show, and organisers wanting to provide a safe event – as well as from MPs right across the House.
"The organiser of Leeds Festival is also very keen that my change in the law succeeds. Hopefully if we can get Parliament and the new Home Secretary to supoort this we can see this change come in place in time for the start of the next Leeds Festival."