THE countdown to this year's Creamfields music festival has begun.

Cheshire Constabulary has been working hard with festival organiser to ensure that the event - taking place in Daresbury from next Thursday to Sunday and now its 14 year - is enjoyed safely by all.

Around 70,000 music fans are again expected to attend the annual event, featuring a host of acts, including Above and Beyond, Fatboy Slim, Pete Tong, Calvin Harris and The Chemical Brothers among many others.

A police spokesman said policing the four-day festival is a considerable undertaking.

The force is working closely with the event organisers, local authorities, parish councils and other agencies as part of the planning process to ensure that the festival runs safely and smoothly and, importantly, to minimise disruption to the local community.

Within the site officers will be present to prevent incidents of crime and disorder and support the security staff.

Off-site they will be involved with traffic management and policing in the surrounding areas.

Superintendent Debbie Hooper, leading the policing operation for the event, said: "We always spend months planning for Creamfields to ensure that we are as prepared as possible.

"As always our main priorities are to ensure that everyone at Creamfields enjoys the event safely and to minimise the disruption for residents during the festival.

"Security will be as tight as ever and any form or crime and disorder will not be tolerated by the officers in and around the festival site in Daresbury."

Officers from Runcorn and Warrington Local Policing Units will be working throughout the course of the weekend to deal with any issues that arise relating to the festival, to minimise any disruption to local residents and to reassure members of the public.

A clearly signposted welfare tent will be located in the arena, near the north entrance.

Festivalgoers can go there to report any incidents to officers at any point over the duration of the event.

Supt Hooper added: "The event organisers will again have drugs dogs working at entrance points.

"Various other security measures will be in place and all festivalgoers will be searched prior to being granted entry.

"They will have the opportunity to deposit any weapons or drugs in surrender bins placed at the entrances.

"Anyone who is subsequently found in possession of such items, having not placed them into the bins, will be arrested and made to face the consequences of their actions.

"My advice to anyone considering bringing weapons or drugs to the event is … don't."

Police and crime commissioner David Keane said: "I understand the impact this event has on the local community, but I am pleased to see that officers – working alongside partner organisations – are again doing everything they can to keep this disruption to a minimum, and are taking steps to help festivalgoers enjoy themselves without putting themselves or others at risk.

"This is one of the biggest events in the calendar for Cheshire Constabulary and I am grateful to the officers who work tirelessly in and around the event site in Daresbury over the Bank Holiday weekend each year."

For more information about this year’s Creamfields festival visit

www.creamfields.com