TWO residents who tried to stop the Creamfields music festival going ahead this weekend have lost a legal battle - and been landed with £13,500 costs.

A judge has ordered Paul Barlow and Peter Priestner, members of a neighbourhood action group which opposed the festival at Daresbury, near Warrington, to pay the costs after a two-day appeal hearing.

Originally, Halton council and festival organisers Cream had sought costs totalling £23,500, but District Judge Miriam Shelvey reduced the amount.

The festival will go ahead on Saturday with a line-up which includes Tiesto, Mylo, David Guetta, Basement Jaxx, Calvin Harris, Dizzee Rascal and Paul Van Dyk.

About 30,000 fans are expected to attend.

It is the fourth time the festival has been held at Daresbury.

Barricaded

Many residents barricade their homes and gardens for the weekend to keep revellers out.

Mr Barlow said that he had been stunned by the costs award and said: "It's a victory for the legal system over common sense."

Earlier this year, Halton council granted a licence for the controversial festival on land owned by former Greenalls brewery magnate Lord Peter Daresbury, despite opposition from 160 local residents.

They had claimed it causes a noise nuisance, traffic congestion, drug and alcohol problems, litter and anti-social behaviour.

Mr Barlow and Mr Priestner decided to appeal against the council's decision and found themselves in a David-and-Goliath struggle against lawyers and expert witnesses engaged by the council and the Cream organisation.

Mr Barlow admitted he had expected the appeal hearing to be similar to the original application by Cream.

He said: "It turned out to be more a technical and legal argument.

"I am actually annoyed with neighbouring Warrington council, because they originally opposed Cream's application for a permanent licence. But at the appeal, they stated that in their opinion, the festival did not cause a nuisance.

"After that, we didn't really stand a chance."

Mr Barlow said it was likely he would object to the Creamfields festival again next year - but would not appeal against the decision if the application was granted.

Mr Priestner was not at the appeal hearing because he was away on holiday. But he was still ordered to pay costs.