FEARS that ostriches might run amok did not stop plans for a charity music festival in Wickham getting the go-ahead from council chiefs.

About 1,500 music lovers will descend on Little Tapnage Farm in Titchfield Lane to see live bands and DJs in July.

However, plans could still hit problems if organisers cannot meet the cost of policing the event.

Wickham Parish Council and more than 20 residents objected to BigTop! 2004 over noise and traffic problems at a similar event last year.

However Winchester licensing chiefs decided organisers should get their way.

Tim Armstrong, co-owner of organisers Sound Proj-x, told them his business partner Gary Gamblin was diagnosed with cancer seven years ago, which led to the pair staging festivals to raise money for research into the disease.

Farm buildings on the Wickham site are used to rear ostriches.

Mr Armstrong said the 2003 event ran at a loss of £8,000 with only 800 attending, 700 fewer than expected. But they still gave £500 to cancer charities out of their own pockets.

He said speakers would be directed into open countryside instead of the village this year.

Knowle resident Paul Kelly, who, with all people living in the new development, has signed a clause to stop noisy activity by 10.30pm, said the event would be too large, disturb villagers and could bring up to 600 cars to the area.

Environmental health manager Sue Blazdell said restrictions would be set to minimise disturbance. Levels would be lower than traffic noise from a busy street from indoors.

A vet was also consulted to see how ostriches would react to loud music.

Mrs Blazdell added: "He believes the noise may affect the ostriches and cause them to be alarmed and run around."

About 40 police officers will be needed, with a bill of between £8,000 and £20,000.

Mr Armstrong said he was already paying £2,000 for private security, and that last year's event only made £12,000, with £20,000 costs.

He said he would have to negotiate a lower price with police, perhaps by cutting the event's length, to make it viable.

After an hour of discussion behind closed doors, members decided to grant a licence.

Security will also be put in place to ensure ostriches cannot break in to the festival area.

For more information on the event, which is likely to start at 3pm on Saturday, July 10 and end at 12.30am the next day, you can visit : www.soundprojx.com