YOUNG and old stand divided by a proposal to lay on a pop concert for 25,000 people in a rural community.

A meeting of about 220 people took place on Monday to discuss the pros and cons of the event which is planned to be held in a field off Plough Lane, Christleton, on Sunday, September 23.

A show of hands revealed the majority of the audience, who were older people, were against the idea.

However, about 20 younger people voted in support of the Chestermania gig which aims to attract teenage bands like A1 and B*Witched.

The scheme must be granted an entertainments licence by the city's licensing panel before it can go ahead and members will take into account the views of police and fire services plus local residents.

Opponents of the plan fear traffic chaos on narrow lanes, problems in maintaining public order, underage drinking and drug abuse, noise and the possibility that foot and mouth could be spread.

People who gathered in the hall at Christleton High School on Monday night were furious organisers Frontline Events Ltd, who had been invited, were not on hand to answer questions.

Paul Anderson, of Plough Lane, Christleton, said: 'I agree this will be an uninformed debate because of the absence of Frontline. It possibly tells us how well organised they are and how seriously they take the village.

'There was an event smaller than this one which took place in Leeds, a free event which attracted 70,000 people. In the event of such numbers arriving here, how would Frontline or the police deal with such numbers? How are they going to organise the evacuation of such numbers at 10 or 11pm at night?'

Cllr Brian Bailey, who represents Christleton on Chester City Council, said: 'They are talking about bringing 8,500 cars along Cotton Lane and Plough Lane. That's about a quarter of the daily traffic flow on the A51 in both directions.'

He added: 'If young people want a pop concert it has to be properly organised, in the right location, and this isn't it.'

A few members of the public warned about the risk of foot and mouth being spread to the area given 25,000 people would descend on Christleton from far and wide.

One man mentioned animal movement restrictions had been placed on farms in the Barrow and Duddon areas due to dangerous contacts making the risk even greater at the moment.

Laura Kendal, 19, of Quarry Lane, said: 'What I don't understand is it is one day in the year, as Ed has said. If there is trouble there won't be one next year. Those who are talking about vandalism and alcohol have obviously done no research. They are family acts.'

Carol O'Connell, 24, of Guy Lane, agreed: 'I have my doubts, of course I do. But I have got an open mind, which a lot of people in here don't seem to have.'

Frontline representatives attended a meeting of Christleton Parish Council on Tuesday where they answered questions.

A decision on the entertainments licence for the concert will be made by the licensing panel during the last week in August.