A POPULAR music festival will not be taking place this year.

The plug has been pulled on Charlbury’s Riverside Festival because of insurance.

The free festival offers a platform for local bands and musicians to showcase their talents in front of bumper crowds.

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Festival director Andy Pickard said: “In these uncertain times, not only is the safety of our audience and the local community a top priority, but obtaining insurance is a huge problem for us.

“There was no Covid insurance flying about, that’s the main issue.

“It’s not a steady environment at the moment, and the lateral flow testing would cost thousands of pounds.

“Our medical teams are NHS doctors and nurses, and they strongly advised against it this year.

“The situation for festivals like Reading and Leeds is exactly the same, they’ve just got the clout to cover testing, and the extra security and stewarding that’s needed.

“The good news is that we now have a whole year to plan the best ever Riverside Festival for the summer of 2022.”