THE man behind a Jubilee concert planned for an old aircraft hanger has criticised a town council's decision to set up a rival event.

Businessman David Scott was yesterday granted a licence for his 2,000-capacity event that will include big-name musicians and a swing band tribute from the Royal Air Force Squadronaires.

Despite a number of local objections to potential noise from residents near the site at Master Road, in Thornaby, Stockton Borough Council licensing committee granted the musical extravaganza an entertainments licence.

The event begins on Saturday with a 1950s-style dance and tributes to swing band greats such as Glenn Miller.

Then silver screen soul band The Commitments appear on Sunday along with 1970s glam rock band The Sweet and tribute band T-Rextasy.

After being granted the licence Mr Scott demanded a level playing field for such events after a Thornaby Town Council-run event on the same weekend didn't need a licence.

Their Golden Jubilee Rock Concert, on the Stockton council-owned Harold Wilson Recreation Ground, is aimed at a much younger audience and is totally alcohol-free, say organisers. Mr Scott, who says there are no plans for further concerts at the hanger, has promised all proceedings will go to local junior football club TIBS.

He said: "Our venue is practically the same size as Newcastle's Telewest Arena and could have easily accommodated the town council's event on the Monday.

"Instead the events clash and the people of Thornaby don't have anything for the bank holiday.

"They are effectively treating our event as competition. The idea was to celebrate the jubilee in a nostalgic kind of way. There will be no rowdy behaviour or people hanging round afterwards."

Leanne Plant, Thornaby Town Council's clerk and rock concert organiser, said it was not right to compare the two events.

She said: "Ours showcases local bands and is aimed at a more youthful audience, from little children to teenagers and young adults.

"Also, we are having no alcohol at our concert so it would be totally impractical to have the two events under the same roof.

"We didn't need to get a licence because the land is owned by Stockton council.