A TWO-DAY music festival will bring tribute bands to Heddon-on-the-Wall - despite local objection.

Legends on the Wall, organised by R&J Events, Liveworld Ltd and Funshack, will see acts like Abba, ACDC, Ed Sheeran and Little Mix perform alongside local talent and vendors.

Local residents have hit out at the festival plans, citing concerns for wildlife, noise, litter and traffic pollution, as well as fears of anti-social behaviour and security.

“We’re two friends who are trying to put a bit back into the community”, said organiser Joanna Jackson, who has been behind Hexham Spook Night and the Ovingham Goose Fair. “We’re doing everything we possibly can to make it a safe, family-friendly event with as little impact.

“It’s never going to be a massive event. People seem to think it’s going to be Glastonbury.”

Joanna explained her and co-organiser Rachel Lawson have capped the event at 450 tickets, in line with a temporary event notice issued by Northumberland County Council.

Last November, the company staged a firework display on the site, owned by farmer John Bramwell. He said: “The festival hasn’t even happened, how can you surmise what’s going to happen?

“If it all goes wrong, it won’t happen again. It’s a storm in a teacup.”

However, local residents claim they have not been consulted.

One said: “Rightly or wrongly, we feel it’s unfair happening on our doorstep. We feel like the injured parties.

"We don’t want to spoil people’s fun but we haven't been allowed a voice.

“If we don’t kick up a fuss now, goodness knows what’ll happen in that field on a regular basis.

“It may come and it might all go swimmingly, but we feel we have to make our feelings known now.”

Another resident described it as an “invasion of privacy", while another added: “We certainly did not move to the countryside for this; all of our neighbours are concerned about the impact it will have on our lives.”

The festival will take place at the popular Pitch on the Wall campsite off the A69 at Heddon on Friday, July 7 and Saturday, July 8.