One of this summer's major UK music events, the Leeds Festival, is to go ahead after magistrates overturned the local council's decision to block its licence.

The Strokes, Pulp, The Offspring and Guns 'n' Roses are due to play the event at Temple Newsam Park between 23 and 25 August.

Leeds City Council had refused the event a licence after complaints about violence, vandalism and noise following the 2001 festival.

Guns 'n' Roses will play their first UK gig for nine years

Nine people were arrested after police were pelted with bottles and stones, and three toilet blocks were set on fire.

But the councillors' decision was overturned by magistrates after promoter Mean Fiddler appealed.

The company's managing director Melvin Benn said: "This is obviously fantastic news for the festival and for the thousands of fans that have already bought the tickets and those that no doubt will rush to do so now.

Unopposed

"The confidence that the fans have shown in our ability to overturn what they also saw as a bizarre decision was very heartening, and they and we can now look forward to a great weekend."

Leeds City Council said it decided to withdraw any opposition to the festival going ahead prior to the case being heard by magistrates, particularly after hearing about the smooth running of events such as Glastonbury.

A spokesman said: "The council's licensing panel yesterday considered some additional information from Mean Fiddler about the arrangements for sanitation, litter and security provision for the Leeds festival.

Pulp are on the bill for the event

"They also provided references from other local authorities and other organisations about events they have organised recently, such as the Glastonbury festival, which were positive."

The appeal was consequently heard unopposed.

The Prodigy, Foo Fighters and The Streets are also on the bill for the event, which shares most of its acts with the long-established Reading Festival in Berkshire.