Leeds Festival forced to close BBC Radio 1 and Aux stages for entire weekend due to strong winds

Leeds Festival has announced the closure of two stages for the remainder of the weekend due to severe weather conditions. The BBC Radio 1 stage, along with the Aux stage, will not be operational on Saturday or Sunday following strong winds that disrupted the festival's opening day.

Festival organisers shared the news via social media, stating, "Unfortunately the health and safety team have now confirmed we will not be able use the BBC Radio 1 tent & stage tomorrow or Sunday. We are devastated for you and of course the artists that were eager to play."

They added, "That is the same for the Aux stage too. Mother nature has played her part."

The festival's new second stage, the Chevron, was also affected by the weather on Friday, though organisers are optimistic about its reopening. "On the positive side, we are able to be reasonably sure the Chevron will be fit to play tomorrow," they revealed, "and will be opened by The Useless Hotline at midday."

Earlier in the day, festival-goers were issued an urgent weather warning via the Reading and Leeds app. The message read, "Everybody can see and feel that we're suffering from the winds currently. We're urging you to stay in your tents if you are onsite and feel safe to do so. If you are in your car, please remain there. If you are not yet at the festival site, please delay your arrival. We're expecting it to ease up at 10am and we will update you in 30 minutes. Your safety is our number one priority. Remember to look out for each other."

As the situation continues to develop, attendees have been asked to prioritise safety and look after one another while organisers work to manage the weather-related disruptions and provide further updates.