WEST Yorkshire Police have "reluctantly" decided not to challenge the decision to grant a licence for a pop music festival near Wetherby.

They had been considering pursuing a judicial review, following the decision to grant a licence for this year's Carling Leeds Festival over the August Bank Holiday. Trouble has flared on the final night of the pop festival for the past three years.

Last year a mob set toilet blocks on fire at the end of the three-day festival at Temple Newsam, Leeds, causing £250,000-worth of damage.

This year the festival has been moved to Bramham Park.

A force spokeswoman said the decision had been taken because even if the force was successful in the review there was no guarantee another licensing and regulatory panel would not come to the same decision as the first hearing and give the festival the go-ahead.

Updated: 11:01 Friday, July 11, 2003