HAMPSHIRE cricket Club is to defy the authorities by staging two blockbusting music concerts - even though civic chiefs have told them not to.

The club was told the events featuring boy band Blue, pop idol Darius and the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra at their Rose Bowl ground next month should not go ahead because they will be too noisy.

The crackdown comes in the wake of complaints received from neighbouring residents after a 9,500 sell-out concert by girl band Mis-teeq - the grand finale to the inaugural Twenty20 cricket match.

Noise levels were breached for more than an hour during the performance on June 13.

But the cricket club will use a legal loophole to press on with the concerts regardless.

They have lodged an appeal against the decision which cannot be heard until after the event.

Leader of Eastleigh Council Keith House admitted it made a mockery of the system but confirmed the council was unlikely to pull the plug and impound sound equipment even though it would be legally entitled to.

He said if enforcement action was taken but the appeal went in favour of concert organisers the taxpayers of Eastleigh would be liable for the "large costs" of the promoters.

Residents are already bracing themselves for a repeat of the noise and traffic congestion they suffered six weeks ago.

Neville Dickinson, chairman of West End Parish Council, said: "The law supports them unfortunately. "The cricket club should have got planning permission before they started selling the tickets.

"I think there's concern in the village as a whole for reasons of noise and traffic. There are four this year - there might be six or eight next year."

Eastleigh council's head of environmental health Paul Ruta said: "My opinion remains this site is unsuitable for events of this type and relief should not be given."

But organisers intend to press on with the money-spinning music ventures, with hundreds of £22 tickets have already been sold.

Nick Pike, managing director of Hampshire Cricket Club, said: "Ticket sales are well advanced for both the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on Sunday, August 31 and the concert by Blue and Darius on Saturday, August 30."

He confirmed the club planned to appeal and said the club hadcommissioned expert acoustic advice from international consultants who will mock up a full test prior to the event and monitor results on the night.

Permission for the concerts was refused because the Eastleigh Council local committee for West End did not believe the club could keep music within accepted levels.