OVERTON Parish Council has turned down free tickets to CarFest for fear that villagers might think they were some sort of bribe.

Overton Parish Council chairman Tom Ridler told the full council on July 10 that he had been asked by Clare Scheckter, from Laverstoke Park Farm, if the parish council required tickets again to observe the event.

Last year two parish councillors went as official observers following complaints from a small number of parishioners who were very concerned about noise and disturbance.

Cllr Ridler said: “Clare said she would offer the two tickets to observers again but I said I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

He said there had been some merit in having parish council observers last year but if there was a need for observers again, the tickets should be purchased.

He added: “There was a rumour to say that parish and borough councillors were being bribed with free tickets.”

Brand Events, which is organising the event on behalf of BBC Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans, said the only tickets given to councils were for official business, such as licensing.