High winds nearly saw OsFest shut

High winds, the remnants of Hurricane Bertha, blew across the Oswestry Showground on Sunday as chart performers took to the stage.

At one point hundreds of music fans were moved away from the main stage when tolerance level winds speeds came close to dangerous levels.

But, unlike other festivals across Britain on that day, organisers were able to keep the show running.

And those behind the festival said they would now been looking at how Osfest can more forward for future years.

Today they paid tribute to members of the audience, who calmly moved to the fairground on the other site of the Park Hall showground as singer Elyar Fox was performing.

Carly Woodward from Osfest said: "We have safety plans in place that we hope we never have to use.

"On Sunday part of that plan had to be enforced and we showed that it worked very well. There was no problem with the stage however, all structures like this have wind tolerance levels that have to be complied with."

"We monitored the wind speeds throughout the afternoon and at one stage it reached 37 miles an hour so we had to move people away. However thankfully the speeds dropped."

"Sunday saw several festivals, including Bloodstock and Boardfest pull the plug completely and fully evacuate the sites. In restrospect we are very pleased that we were able to keep Osfest running with only minor changes to the programme."

She said that Osfest would now be looking to the future.

"We have now had five years of Osfest and we need to look at what works, and perhaps what doesn't work.

"The festival was launched to give something to the people of Oswestry and this will continue."