The organiser of a major music festival which took place without Covid restrictions this weekend insists large-scale events like his can go ahead.
Rock music festival Download made its return this weekend at Donington Park in Leicestershire with 10,000 fans in attendance - 90% fewer than the event's usual 100,000 capacity.
It is being held as one of the Government's pilot live events - meaning fans do not have to wear masks or socially distance at the festival.
Melvin Benn, the festival's organiser, insists that Download going ahead this weekend is '100% evidence' that large-scale music events can safely take place amid the pandemic.
He said: “It’s extraordinary really. It’s really fantastic. I am very heart-warmed by it all.
"The level of compliance around the testing and requirements we have is absolutely extraordinary.
"This is a very clear demonstration that you can do it [hold large-scale music events in the pandemic]."
Festival-goers had to produce a negative PCR coronavirus test before arrival at Donington Park and must complete another after the event finishes.
Around 40 bands have performed at Download this weekend, with Bullet For My Valentine, Frank Turner and Creeper headlining the three-day event.
Visitors were welcomed by downpours on Friday (June 18), when promoter Andy Copping described an atmosphere of 'euphoria'.
“The thing is, it wouldn’t be Download unless there was a bit of rain and we had to have that,” he told PA.
A series of pilot events took place in Liverpool in April and May - including two club nights, a music festival and a business conference.
Those events were hailed as a success, as just 11 people returned a positive Covid test result out of 13,000 attendees - although less than half submitted their final result.
