A SOLD-OUT techno festival could take place at an unidentified location in rural Dorset this weekend after organisers withdrew their plans to host the event in a Wimborne field.

Landowners at Merley Hall Farm, which is off the A31 near Willett Road, had not agreed to host the Sikuta Festival, it was heard at a Dorset Council meeting yesterday.

As a result, Sikuta’s organisers have withdrawn their application for a temporary event licence.

However, the festival has sold out, with some 450 people buying tickets. It is due to take place on Saturday night.

After the hearing, Archie Brown, who is one of those behind the festival, said it was “still likely” the event would go ahead – but at another location.

He declined to say where, although a website selling tickets for the event originally said the site would be in the Fordingbridge area.

Mr Brown said: “We’re still trying to finalise the details for the event. It’s still likely that it will still happen.”

Adam Jackson, who appeared with him at the County Hall hearing, said that arrangements had been made to contact all those who had bought tickets via the ticket sales website to say where the event was to be held.

The Daily Echo has spoken to the farmer at Merley Hall Farm. He said no permission was given for the event as the organisers didn't pay a deposit or agree to a set list of conditions ahead of the festival.

Dorset Police said in their objection that they were worried about the experience of those behind the event and the risk of disturbance to residents.

An application to Dorset Council for a temporary event notice had asked for the sale of alcohol and food until 2am, although said that music would stop at midnight.

Organisers of the Sikuta Festival said the evening would feature house, techno, bassline and drum and bass music.

Dorset Police had also expressed concern that the application had been made within three weeks of the event taking place.

Their concerns include security, the age profile of the audience, first aid provision, adequate toilets, what might happen in the event of bad weather and who will be running the bar, as well as noise disturbance to residents and a lack of evidence about public liability insurance.

Sergeant Gareth Gosling, in a statement, described the planned security for the event as “woefully low given the nature of the event.”

He said Dorset Police had not been provided with the evidence which would have reassured them about issues of security, medical, welfare, dispersal, age controls and traffic management.