Licensing laws caused a village charity picnic to be cancelled because organisers had booked a jazz trio -- and only two musicians can perform without a licence.

The picnic was to be held in the spacious gardens of a former ambassador's home in the west Oxfordshire village of Stonesfield.

The event was organised by Music in Rural Communities. All profits were to go to a charity for African Aids orphans.

But officers at West Oxfordshire District Council noticed that music was to be performed by a jazz trio.

Under existing public entertainment regulations, a licence is required when more than two musicians are performing -- so organisers found themselves being landed with a £103 demand for a licence.

Megan Hooper, musical director of Music in Rural Communities, said: "We felt the response from the council was way over the top. The council spoilt the whole thing."

Last Sunday's picnic was abandoned and the Julia Middleton Jazz Trio ended up having to perform in Stonesfield Village Hall, which had been provisionally booked by organisers in case of poor weather. Only 34 people turned up and the event made a loss.

Ian Hudspeth, the district council cabinet member responsible for licensing, denied it was embarking on a crackdown on small village events.

He said: "It is simply a case that when officers become aware of an event coming up that requires a licence, and one has not been acquired, they get in touch with organisers to make sure that they are complying with the law."

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