SWINDON police will be cracking down hard on drugs and alcohol at next month’s Big Weekend.

The Radio One festival at Lydiard Park is expected to attract around 20,000 revellers on each of the two days for an event which will see some of the biggest bands in Britain hit the stage.

It will also mean a huge police operation for Wiltshire Police.

Police chief, Brian Moore, the Chief Constable for Wiltshire, said that along with the summer solstice at Stonehenge, these were two of the biggest policing operations they were facing this summer.

“The Big Weekend is a family event, and we want to make sure it is safe,” said the chief constable.

“We have been working closely with Swindon Borough Council because we want this to be a successful and enjoyable event. Drink and drugs will not be permitted.”

Mr Moore attended the police operation at Stonehenge last June and was not impressed by what he saw.

He explained: “I could smell cannabis, I could see people who had had too much drink.

“We arrested one guy who keeled over in front of us and fell on top of some kids.

“This year’s solstice will take place on a Saturday so we expect more people to attend.

“We want them to come along and enjoy themselves, but again safety is paramount.”

The chief constable said that the police would not tolerate anyone who turned up to either the Big Weekend or the summer solstice who had been drinking, taken drugs, or were involved in any anti-social behaviour.

“That is unacceptable,” he said.

“The police are going to get tougher.

“We are going to make sure people are safe and that those who come along understand the rules - we don’t want them drunk, we don’t want them taking drugs.

“We want to make it safe and enjoyable for others.”

BBC Radio One’s Big Weekend has been a major success story for Swindon, with claims that it could bring up to £1.5m into the local economy.

The Adver broke the story exclusively back in November, when we announced that one of the BBC's biggest annual music event could be coming to Lydiard Park.

The official confirmation came two weeks ago when Radio One star, Chris Moyles broadcast live from Swindon, announcing that Snow Patrol and N-Dubz would be among the stars.

More big names and details of the event are set to be announced in the next week.

Watch out online and in the Adver.