Thousands of people are attending V Festival at Weston Park on the Shropshire/Staffordshire border this weekend.
The festival celebrates its 20th anniversary this year with acts on stage including Calvin Harris, Kasabian, Sam Smith, Paloma Faith, The Script, Stereophonics, Ellie Goulding, George Ezra, James Bay and Hozier.
Legendary hip-hop pioneers, De La Soul are also part of the anniversary line-up. The game-changing trio will give crowds a hotly anticipated comeback performance, alongside an eclectic mix of the biggest hit-makers and rising stars of the moment. Pendulum (DJ set), MNEK, The Coronas, Conor Maynard, Shift K3Y, Sinead Harnett, Seafret, Zac Samuel, James Glover and Nick Jonas, will complete the line-up.
Scottish funnyman Frankie Boyle will lead the comedy shenanigans alongside fellow V Festival debutant and Essex boy Russell Kane in the Glee Club Comedy Tent. The duo will headline alongside an array of comedy heavyweights guaranteed to bring some side-splitting humour to the popular fifth stage, including Seann Walsh, Shappi Khorsandi, Nick Helm and Gary Delaney.
Traffic Delays
Staffordshire police say that there are some delays for motorists on roads around the site. Pedestrians on the A5 being dropped off to avoid delays are actually causing delays. Police are asking for those attending to stay in their vehicle until reaching the designated drop off point.
Warning Over Dangerous Drugs
A warning has also been issued about dangerous drugs that are circulating the Festival scene.
Supt. Elliott Sharrard-Williams, commander of the police operation at the V Festival in Staffordshire said “We discovered samples of two very dangerous substances with unusually high purity. OImage of dangerous drugs found at V Festival Westernne is a purple pill with a Louis Vuitton logo & the other an orange pill with crown logo.
“We examined the tablets at the onsite drugs lab, and we are concerned that high level of purity could cause users to become serious ill.
“Late last night a young man was found collapsed in the arena and he was immediately treated and transferred to hospital with a suspected drug overdose. Thankfully the man is recovering in hospital.
“We are working to support the organisers to keep V Festival as safe and enjoyable event and I urge anyone in contact with drugs to deposit them in the dedicated drugs bins on the site.”
Steve Wheaton from West Midlands Ambulance Service added “I urge anyone feeling unwell who may have had drugs to seek immediate medical help. We have doctors, paramedics and skilled staff on site to deal with any emergency and we are working closely with the onsite medical teams to provide any urgent support.”
West Midlands Ambulance Service, in partnership with Venture Event Medical Management and St. John Ambulance, is providing medical cover at this year’s V Festival at Weston Park.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “So far, 132 people have been treated at the on-site medical centre collectively by St. John Ambulance volunteers and West Midlands Ambulance Service staff after self-presenting to the facility. On-site ambulance crews around Weston Park tended to a further 36 patients with only three patients requiring hospital treatment. This included a patient with an ear injury and also a second patient with a suspected fractured ankle.
“Fortunately, the vast majority of cases were minor injuries, including trips, bumps and falls and a number of people having suffered a wasp or bee sting.”
V Festival Stages 2015
Saturday 22 August – Weston Park
VIRGIN MEDIA STAGE:
Calvin Harris, The Script, Ellie Goulding, George Ezra, The Kooks, Ella Henderson, Gregory Porter, Imelda May
MTV STAGE:
Stereophonics, Clean Bandit, Kodaline, The Charlatans, Sigma, Maverick Sabre, Ella Eyre, Echo and the Bunnymen, Scouting for Girls, Hilltop Hoods
THE ARENA:
Paloma Faith, Jessie Ware, Duke Dumont, De La Soul, LunchMoney Lewis, Nick Jonas, Wretch 32, Conor Maynard, Lawson, Indiana
THE DANCE TENT:
Oliver Heldens, Philip George, Toddla T, Goldie, Marvin Humes presents Luvbug, Moxie, James Glover
Sunday 23 August – Weston Park
VIRGIN MEDIA STAGE:
Kasabian, Sam Smith, Hozier, Courteeners, Annie Mac, James Bay, Marina & the Diamonds, The Proclaimers
MTV STAGE:
Olly Murs, Tom Jones, Chvrches, Labrinth, Mark Ronson DJ Set, Jess Glynne, Fuse ODG, Reverend and the Makers, Bleachers, The Coronas
THE ARENA:
Nero, Andy C, Example + DJ Wire, Pendulum DJ Set, Tove Lo, MNEK, Aston Merrygold, Sinead Harnett, Seafret
THE DANCE TENT:
Oliver Heldens, Philip George, Toddla T, Goldie, Marvin Humes presents Luvbug, Moxie, James Glover
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