Drug charity on hand at V Festival

AN Essex drug and alcohol charity will be on hand to offer information and advice to revellers at this year's V Festival, it has been announced.

Open Road has five centres across Essex and the charity has been chosen to work alongside festival organisers, Maztec Ltd, to provide - amongst other things - a special “chill out” tent.

The charity, which has centres in both mid and north Essex, works to reduce the harmful impact of drugs and alcohol on users and their families.

Approximately 75,000 people are expected to attend the festival weekend this summer at Chelmsford's Hylands Park and Open Road will provide support and therapies to people who may need the charity's help.

The event will be an opportunity to boost the profile of the charity that began in Colchester almost two decades ago.

Sarah Chambers, Open Road's chief executive, said: “This is an excellent opportunity for the charity to be working closely with other local general practitioners, nurses and paramedics, along with raising awareness of issues around drug and alcohol misuse.”

Festival organisers said they wanted a local charity with the right mix of skills and expertise to provide support to festival goers.

Dawn Woodhouse, spokeswoman for Maztec Ltd, said: “Although we don't condone taking drugs and misuse of alcohol the Hylands Park becomes a town during the V Festival weekend and like any town people may well indulge.

“We wanted a well respected local organisation to offer help to people at V that may need it and Open Road fitted the bill perfectly.”

The headline acts confirmed for the three main stages on August 18 and 19 include Basement Jaxx, Foo Fighters, Damien Rice, Pink, Primal Scream, Snow Patrol, The Killers and The Kooks as well as a host of other artists.