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| Glastonbury Festival admits human waste pollution offence | Glastonbury Festival admits human waste pollution offence |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The organisers of the Glastonbury Festival have admitted allowing human sewage to leak from a tank and pollute a stream. | |
| The leak happened at the Worthy Farm site in Somerset in June 2014 and damaged water quality and killed fish. | The leak happened at the Worthy Farm site in Somerset in June 2014 and damaged water quality and killed fish. |
| Founder Michael Eavis was at Yeovil Magistrates' Court to face the charges. | Founder Michael Eavis was at Yeovil Magistrates' Court to face the charges. |
| The Glastonbury Festival is one of the UK's biggest music events, with some 175,000 people attending each year. | The Glastonbury Festival is one of the UK's biggest music events, with some 175,000 people attending each year. |
| During the hearing, the judge was told that 39 fish were killed by the sewage. | During the hearing, the judge was told that 39 fish were killed by the sewage. |
| Mr Eavis's defence told the court the watercourse historically did not have normal oxygen levels. | Mr Eavis's defence told the court the watercourse historically did not have normal oxygen levels. |
| The case has now been adjourned while both parties put together more detailed background reports. | The case has now been adjourned while both parties put together more detailed background reports. |
| Another issue yet to be decided is the seriousness of the breach. | Another issue yet to be decided is the seriousness of the breach. |
| If it is a category one offence, the festival would be in line for a fine of between £55,000 to £300,000 or, if it is deemed a category two the fine would be £20,000. | If it is a category one offence, the festival would be in line for a fine of between £55,000 to £300,000 or, if it is deemed a category two the fine would be £20,000. |
| The defence team told the court any fine should be in line with the company's finances. They said the festival's net profit was £84,000 a year before tax. | |
| Kasabian, Dolly Parton and Metallica headlined the festival in 2014. |