THE team behind a popular Cumbrian festival are confident the event will still go ahead despite changes to the road-map out of lockdown.

On Monday, Boris Johnson announced a four-week delay to the much-anticipated 'freedom day' of June 21.

It follows a surge in cases of the Delta variant - previously known as the Indian variant - across the UK, with cases confirmed in Cumbria.

But Sam Johnstone, one of the men behind Cumbria's Solfest music festival, believes the event will still go ahead later this summer as planned.

It is currently scheduled to take place over the August Bank Holiday.

Sam said: "To be honest, we didn't expect Festivals to get the go-ahead this weekend anyway, because the guidance is getting released after the Download Pilot trial this weekend.

"We've agreed with all our suppliers that have put deposits down that it will roll over to next year.

"We don't have to start building until around two weeks before, unlike Boomtown which would have to start in April.

"We're not concerned. Everything is still going ahead."

"It's been tragic for the events that were meant to be happening in the next few weeks and for everyone who needs the work.

"The delay has given more time to get people vaccinated - the worst thing that could've happened to us is a full lockdown in a month. We provided sound and DJs for a socially distanced event at District L in Ullswater at the weekend, and it was just amazing to see everyone cheering."