Festival bosses face legal action

Police order silent night in Castletown

The organisers of a popular community day in the south have been forced to rearrange, after police threatened them with prosecution.

Castletown Festival takes place today, for the 61st year running.

But the management committee has been told to cancel all musical entertainment continuing past 6pm - as it contravenes licensing laws from the 1960s.

Festival bosses are now in talks with lawyers.

The move has been described as 'ridiculous' and 'a farce' by social media users.

A revised timetable of events has been published, with band performances taking place earlier in the afternoon, and the evening parade and fireworks display continuing later without music or dancing.

Festival committee secretary Colin Leather told Manx Radio how tonight will proceed: