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UK News

Gypsy church rejects criticism of festival

The Light and Life event takes place somewhere in the UK each year with thousands attending.

This year the venue is the Thame Showground in Oxfordshire but local residents are already complaining.

A number have taken to social media with concern their town has been 'taken over' while the organisation which hires out the field is now claiming the booking was deceitfully made under the name 'Darlington Christian Fellowship'.

It's claimed lawyers and police are now involved.

National Police Air Service

One of the festival organisers, Gerry Beves, has told Premier that it has done nothing wrong.

"We've paid for it, signed a contract, we have insurance we have everything covered," he said. "As far as I know we have no problems."

Addressing the concerns of locals, he said: "We just take it on the chin.

"They accuse of this, that or the other and actually they're accusing someone else.

"We have to bear with the failings of the weak, we have to put up with their bad behaviour because through that they will get saved and that's how people change."

Festival organisers say many people without faith will attend this week with the hope many will come to know Jesus.

A Thame Town Council spokesman said: "We share the concerns of many in the community with regard to a current event at Thame Showground.

"As always it is difficult to separate fact from fiction. Opinions expressed range from outright support to outright indignation."

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