WARRINGTON North MP Charlotte Nichols has urged the government to 'immediately publish' its research on large-scale live events to ensure festivals like Neighbourhood Weekender can go ahead.

Ms Nichols said the recent cancellation of Kendal Calling had 'sent shockwaves through the events sector' and other festivals are still in jeopardy.

Organisers blamed the delayed release of the findings from the 'Events Research Programme' for pulling the plug on Kendal Calling.

In a statement they said: “Without this safety guidance, there are numerous aspects of the festival we cannot plan, and which could lay us wide open to last minute unforeseen regulations or requirements which could scupper an already built festival."

Back at the beginning of May, Liverpool hosted a Blossoms-headlined pilot gig, and a warehouse club night, alongside a number of other pilot schemes.

And just this weekend, a smaller-scale version of Download festival went ahead at Donington Park with 10,000 camping punters.

Publishing the findings of the trial events in May could be a lifeline for UK festivals, who have been hit hard by 15 months of postponements, cancellations, and unpaid bills.

But the research has yet to materialise with no date offered to anxious festival organisers.

Addressing Nigel Huddlestone, under secretary of state for culture, in parliament, Ms Nichols said that festivals like Neighbourhood in Latchford cannot plan ahead on a 'vague promise' of the Events Research Programme being published.

She said: "Like many Warringtonians, I am massively looking forward to Warrington’s Neighbourhood Weekender festival, which has been rescheduled for September.

"Naturally, news that the Kendal Calling festival has been cancelled has caused huge concern to the events sector, as has the lack of publication of the Events Research Programme.

"Festivals cannot plan ahead on a vague promise of 'very soon' from the minister, so what recent discussions has the Minister had with festivals across the country that need to make imminent decisions impacting on jobs, livelihoods and events of cultural significance to ensure they can go ahead?"

Mr Huddleston said he and other ministers were in 'frequent contact with stakeholders across the variety of sectors that are reliant on the results of the Events Research Programme'.

He added: "It is absolutely the intent to release the report prior to step 4 (when all Covid restrictions are set to lift on July 19).

"We also want to make sure that the events sector has the relevant guidance so that it can help events to open as effectively and efficiently as possible as soon as they are able to do so."

Neighbourhood Weekender is set to go ahead on the rescheduled dates of September 3 to 5 with Gerry Cinnamon, James and Catfish and the Bottlemen headlining.