THE Welliestock Music Festival is taking a year off in 2019, says festival organiser Huw Weston.

This year’s event was planned to be held in a field at Court Fields School in Wellington but senior police ruled the site out over health and safety concerns in April.

In the end the festival took place on the Beech Grove pitch at Wellington Rugby Club at the end of June just five days after Taunton Deane Borough Council gave permission.

Now the festival – like the famous Glastonbury Festival, organised by farmer Michael Eavis – will be taking a year off for the first time since it started in 2014.

Welliestock organiser Huw Weston said: “This wasn’t an easy decision to make but my family would like to enjoy a more relaxed year next year. If it’s good enough for Mr Eavis!

“This will allow us to spend more time planning our next Welliestock, working with authorities earlier and hopefully attracting potential sponsors to support our event.”

Mr Weston said this year had been challenging but the event had been a triumph.

He added: “It produced a day that will be remembered for a very long time. With a different venue, set up and a true festival vibe as people made their way to the site, it felt like a very special place where once again we celebrated the joy of living in Wellington, delighted that so many fantastic artists wanted to perform at Welliestock.”