A MUSIC festival expected to attract about 8,000 fans has been given the go-ahead - despite police objections to the "massively expanded" event.

Civic chiefs have approved plans to stage the third annual Somerley Tea Party, which will be held in the grounds of Lord Normanton's stately home near Ringwood in June.

Police had opposed application, citing safety issues and the widespread drug abuse said to have taken place at last year's event.

But the festival was given the nod following a seven-hour meeting of New Forest District Council's licensing sub-committee.

The organisers, Tea Party Matters Ltd, had already announced this year's line-up, which includes Radio 1 stars Annie Mac and B.Traits, plus bass sensation Joy Orbison.

But with just three months to go they would have been forced to cancel the event if their application had been rejected and they had lost any subsequent appeal.

Police witnesses at the sub-committee meeting criticised the late submission of documents supporting the licensing bid.

Superintendent Alison Heydari said: "The police have been requesting plans for some time in order to allow a reasonable period of time for the police and other partners to test the quality of the plans, challenge issues and resolve them in good time.

"Despite this request Tea Party Matter did not submit their event management plan until the end of January."

Supt Heydari said the plan failed to address one of the main issues that arose last year - the risk of death or serious injury involving pedestrians leaving the Verwood Road entrance to the site.

Chief Inspector Simon Tribe added: "A significant number of people will simply try to walk away from the event, given the perceived proximity of Ringwood.

"None of the roads in the area are lit and most have no pavements.

"I envisage there will be a significant risk of car-versus-pedestrian accidents and remain unconvinced that the venue is a suitable location for events such as this."

Other officers cited the "significant" drug taking that occurred at last year's event.

PC Lee Scott, who watched many of the fans arrive, said: "In my belief the vast majority were under the influence of drink, drugs or both."

The 2016 festival is expected to attract up to 8,000 fans - almost double the number who flocked to the one-day celebration held last year.

Police solicitor Roger Trencher told the sub-committee: "It's a massively expanded event that's being done on a wing and a prayer. We are getting late documentation and new information even now."

But Philip Day, representing the applicants, said "highly professional" people had put a huge amount of planning into the 2016 festival.

He added: "There will be a detailed security plan - you can be confident that the organisers will produce a safe event."

Turning to criticism of last year's festival he said: "There were a lot of police at the event last year and they didn't arrest a single soul. If people were clearly under the influence of drugs, why didn't the police use their powers to stop and search them?"

After deliberating for 90 minutes the sub-committee approved the application, subject to conditions.