Villagers have hit out after music festival organisers applied for permission to have an extra 9,000 people at the event. 

Organisers of the Brownstock Festival, based at Morris Farm, in Lower Burnham Road, Stow Maries, want permission to more than double crowd numbers - from 5,999 to 14,999.

Maldon District Council’s licensing officer Peter Chown revealed at a public meeting in Stow Maries on Monday that the 15,000 people could go to this year’s festival in August if the licence is granted.

Festival director Adam Brown, 29, said that he had agreed with local authorities that only 5,999 would attend this year's festival.

He added: "We are not applying to increase the numbers this year, but we want to increase over the next three or four years."

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