Concert cancelled as group of children fall ill

Welsh Ambulance Service said 11 people were taken from the festival to hospital following the outbreak

A concert at a music festival had to be cancelled after a group of children were taken to hospital after falling ill.

The Welsh Ambulance Service confirmed on Thursday that 11 patients were taken from Llangollen International Eisteddfod in Denbighshire to Wrexham Maelor Hospital with flu-like symptoms on Wednesday.

It was previously confirmed that eight patients were being assessed for mild respiratory symptoms but that has now increased to 11.

The Llangollen International Eisteddfod said it was forced to cancel the concert, by Welsh musician and composer Karl Jenkins, but said the festival would resume on Thursday morning.

Composer Karl Jenkins was due to perform at Llangollen International Eisteddfod on Wednesday evening

Dr Giri Shankar, Director of Health Protection for Public Health Wales, said the eight children assessed in the hospital on Wednesday night would be discharged on Thursday morning.

"Tests carried out on these children have indicated the presence of common respiratory viruses, including flu.

"They are being treated appropriately and are recovering. The risk to the public remains low".

The festival said the extraordinary incident related to a flu-like outbreak with multiple people coming forward with similar symptoms.

"The Llangollen International Eisteddfod takes the safety of its audience, competitors, performers and volunteers extremely seriously," it added.

David Hennigan, board director for Llangollen, said they were pleased the children were OK.

"We would like to thank our medical staff, the Welsh Ambulance Service and volunteers in particular.

"We're keen to carry on now - Llangollen is back in business. The Maes this morning was buzzing again."

Paul Jays and Penny Nicholson said they were disappointed after travelling to the festival especially to see Karl Jenkins

Paul Jays and Penny Nicholson from near Llandrindod Wells, Powys, said they had travelled to the festival especially for the concert, which was a birthday present for Mr Jays.

"We were so disappointed," said Ms Nicholson, adding she ended up having the chance to chat to Karl Jenkins on Thursday morning as he was staying at the same hotel.

"He was disappointed too," she said.

Mr Jays added: "It was so unexpected. We were on the way here, when people coming the other way said it had been cancelled. The nature of the incident was so usual."

Public Health Wales said it was contacted by Eisteddfod organisers and advised them to get medical help for the children who were unwell.

"We would like to clarify that at no time did we ask or advise them to cancel their concert," a spokeswoman said.