Stringent conditions have been placed on the licence for the open air pop concerts at the St Lawrence cricket ground in Canterbury in next month.

It follows numerous concerns raised about the event by the police and city council’s environmental health department which both called for a range of tough safeguards.

The application to the licensing committee on Monday came from Kent Cricket Club, which is hosting concerts by the Sugababes and James Morrison on June 26 and 27.

Members granted 'opening’ hours from 4pm to 11.30pm, with the supply of alcohol until 10.30pm, over the two days, but only if the conditions prescribed by the authorities were met.

The concerts are anticipated to finish before 10pm.

Police say the application lacked details on how to prevent crime and disorder and public nuisance and how to ensure public safety.

They reported to the licensing committee that the capacity of 15,000 people created a risk for surging and crushing due to overcrowding and called for proper crowd control measures and 150 stewards.

All the criteria, they insisted, must be provided to them in a detailed event management plan prior to the concerts.

But Kent Cricket Club operations manager John Fordham says he has already held several meeting with the authorities and is confident the club can meet all the conditions.

He added: "A lot of work has already been going on behind the scenes and it is not a lot different to what we were required to do for the Elton John concert.

"There was always an expectation that we would need to prove ourselves to be fit and proper to hold these events and I am confident we will be able to satisfy the police requirements.

"If they go well, then quite soon after the club is likely to apply for a licence from the council which will allow us to hold one or two like events every year."

Mr Fordham said ticket sales were going extremely well and the support acts for both the Sugababes on Friday and James Morrison on Saturday had now been signed.

They are DJ Ironik on Friday and Vagabond and The Martin Harley Band on the Saturday.