Leeds Festival Reopens After Storm Lilian Delays
Leeds Festival's main arena has reopened after strong winds caused by Storm Lilian forced the closure of three stages and halted performances.
The festival site was battered by gusts of up to 60mph on Friday morning, prompting organisers to issue warnings to campers and advise them to stay safe. A yellow wind warning was in place, and the BBC Radio 1 and Aux stages were deemed unsafe for performances, with the Chevron Stage â scheduled to host American DJ Skrillex â subsequently closing as well.
A spokesperson for the festival stated: "We definitely won't be opening the arena at 11am, but we are targeting as soon as possible after that and we will update you further. However, we have definitely lost the BBC Radio 1 stage and Aux stage today, and there will be no performances on it. We remain hopeful that everything else will continue as planned and that we will still have an amazing weekend."
Videos circulating on social media showed tents being blown around and fences falling across the site. Earlier in the morning, festival-goers were advised to stay in their cars for safety until the wind subsided. "If you are in your car, please remain there. If you are not yet at the festival site, please delay your arrival. Your safety is our number one priority. Remember to look out for each other," organisers urged.
The Met Office has forecast that Storm Lilian will ease by the afternoon. Despite the initial disruption, Liam Gallagher is still scheduled to headline the music festival in Bramham Park on Friday evening.
Over 90,000 people are expected to attend the four-day festival over the Bank Holiday weekend. Road closures around the site are in place for the duration of the festival, and drivers are advised to expect delays due to heavy congestion in the area. Commuters have also been encouraged to allow extra time for their journeys.
