POLICE have called for under-18s to be banned from a Hampshire music festival - but an organiser is determined to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to attend.

The proposal for Mutiny Festival follows an incident where a 13-year-old was allegedly sexually assaulted and another teenager was punched in the face.

But Luke Betts, co-organiser of the event, is 'confident' that an agreement can be reached with licensing chiefs to allow young people in.

Hampshire Police have asked Portsmouth City Council to increase the minimum entry age for Mutiny Festival in Cosham following reports of fighting, sexual assaults and drug use at the 2017 event.

Children as young as 13 have managed to gain access to the festival in the past.

Officers say their faith was 'seriously undermined' during the two-day event this year, which was held at King George V playing fields on May 27 and 28.

PC Pete Rackham, licensing officer at Portsmouth City Council added: "Over the course of the weekend a number of concerns were raised with the event organisers which seriously undermined our faith in the ability of the premises to operate in a way which promoted the licensing objectives and which matched their own policies and procedures.

"Since the 2014 inception of the event, the chief officer of police has raised serious concerns with regards to the ability of children to attend the event and enter the premises.

"While the organisers had come up with ways to tackle the issue there is no way to test their proposals, leaving it to chance on the day that proposals will mitigate the risk to children.

"This is unacceptable."

Police highlighted several incidents of concern which included a 14 year old girl who was alleged sexually assaulted after being signed in by her parent, while a 17 year old was also left with a possible broken eye socket after being punched in the face.

A 13 year old boy was also found a short distance from the event who was punched four times to the face but admitted to medics at the scene that he took cannabis, alcohol as well as inhaling nitrous oxide.

Mr Betts said: "We want 16 and 17 year olds to enjoy the event as much as under-18s and hope an agreement can be reached with the police.

"Last year, a parent who brought their child to the event lied when signing in their child which was a flaw in the system which was recognized.

"Young people often do not have ID but this year everyone will need to have photo ID to be at the event."