MOVES are under way to expand the CarFest event after the landowners applied to vary their licence to sell an extra 4,000 tickets.

Jody and Clare Scheckter, who own Laverstoke Park Farm, which hosts CarFest, have applied to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to vary their premises licence to allow festival organisers, Brand Events, to sell an additional 2,000 tickets per day at the two-day event, which raises money for BBC’s Children in Need, on August 23 and 24.

If agreed, the additional tickets will increase visitor numbers from 19,999 to 23,999.

As previously reported in The Gazette, Brand Events has been working with Overton Parish Council and key members of the wider community to consult on plans to raise more money for the charity, including the option of selling more tickets or holding a second event at the farm on the following weekend.

The vast majority of residents were in favour of the option to sell 4,000 extra tickets for the two-day event.

A spokesman for Brand Events said: “We are extremely grateful to all the neighbours for supporting this endeavour to raise more funds for BBC’s Children in Need, and we will ensure that all parties will continue to work closely with each other in the run up to CarFest 2014.”

Overton Parish Council chairman Councillor Tom Ridler said: “CarFest raises significant funds for BBC’s Children in Need, and the event has been enjoyed by many people in the local area.

“However, it has created some difficulties for people living close to the event site, and it is very pleasing that they have been able to work closely with the organisers to produce a satisfactory solution.”