Leeds Festival issues update as stages closed and opening delayed after Storm Lilian batters site

They'll be a delayed start to this weekend's Leeds Festival, organisers have announced, after Storm Lilian battered the site. Strong winds have also led to the closure of two stages on the festival's opening day.

The main arena won't be opening at 11am as scheduled, but with the end of the storm in sight, organisers hope to kick things off 'as soon as possible after that'. And both the BBC Radio 1 and Aux stages will be closed today, having fallen victim to the weather.

In a statement, organisers said: "We can see an end in sight to the high winds. We definitely won't be opening the arena at 11am, but we are targeting as soon as possible after that and we will update you further.

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"However, we have definitely lost the BBC Radio 1 stage today, and there will be no performances on it. We have also lost the Aux stage today, and there will be no performances on it.

"We remain hopeful that everything else will continue as planned and that we will still have an amazing weekend. Please await further information."

Earlier today campers were advised to stay in their tents, while festival-goers travelling this morning were urged to delay their arrival as the storm hit West Yorkshire. Headline performances at the Branham Park festival will come from Lana Del Rey, Fred Again, Blink-182, Liam Gallagher, Catfish and The Bottlemen and Gerry Cinnamon.