A FAILED charity music event is due to be restaged next year despite concerns over noise levels, safety and costs.

Teesside Hospice held the three-day event in Middlesbrough's Stewart Park in June but, despite attracting acts such as Bob Geldof and Chumbawamba, it attracted less than half the expected 5,000 crowd.

In a report to Middlesbrough Borough Council's licensing committee, head of protection and planning Phil Harper said there were 18 complaints from residents about the noise from the Big Top Music Festival, including parents of pupils studying for exams.

Mr Harper said that noise levels set by the council were not exceeded by the acts, but residents had not been informed how to complain.

He said: "The event promoters had claimed to have leaflet dropped the residential area both to publicise the event and also provide telephone numbers for complainants. This had not happened."

Although the event was not well attended, partly due to the bad weather, council safety officials said the low turn-out prevented a safety hazard.

Mr Harper said: "Concern was expressed by officers at the problems experienced in getting safety certificates and comments were made from the fire service and our own officers about the inadequate provision of lighting.

"In addition, the structural poles under the tent would have been a safety hazard had larger number of patrons attended the events."

The event, organised with help from Century Radio, cost the hospice more than £20,000.

Mr Harper said: "The hospice representatives advised the event has been a learning curve."

The hospice has provisionally booked the site for the next five years.

But Mr Harper said that when a licence is applied for next year, the festival may be shorter and include a different styles of music.

Despite fears of receiving more complaints from nearby residents the council yesterday gave permission for Radio One to host its One Big Sunday event, in Stewart Park, this Sunday.

More than 50,000 are expected to attend the free event to see acts including Victoria Beckham and Billie Piper perform.