Stormy scenes as BBC takes away gig-goers’ umbrellas

THE BBC has ignited a row with music fans by confiscating and keeping 200 golf umbrellas at an open air concert.

Those attending the event in Hyde Park, London, on Sunday had their umbrellas removed by security staff. The BBC said terms and conditions on the concert website clearly stated that “golfing umbrellas” were forbidden. But one attendee said he saw all shapes and sizes being taken.

Jesse Crosse, 63, who was at the festival with his wife, said: “They were just taking everybody’s brollies. The BBC has nicked a lot of property from people.” Mr Crosse, from Oxfordshire, claimed he saw a pile of regular, non golf size umbrellas stacked up.

Thousands of people attended the show, featuring James Blunt, Stereophonics, Shania Twain and Blondie, which was being recorded for Radio 2.

Others vent their anger in Twitter. One person said: “Had to brave the elements as brollies were confiscated… not returned as promised! Many disgruntled people at end of night.” John Harvey tweeted the BBC: “Totally disgusted with your festival… had both my expensive brollies confiscated.”

A BBC spokesman said: “For this event, golf umbrellas were not allowed as they obscure people’s views… the T&CS also stated that confiscated items could not be returned upon exiting the event. Less than 200 were confiscated, all of which were golf umbrellas.”

The corporation later said event-goers who had had umbrellas confiscated could have them back if they contacted Radio 2 via its website.

It is in the nature of umbrellas (and expensive sunglasses) to go missing. In some spot, like the Sargasso Sea, must lie a mountain of brollies and sunglasses tangled in involuted masses like the clippings of a giant poodle parlour. Umbrellas need no encouragement to go missing, yet crowds thronging Hyde Park for the Radio Two event on Sunday found that they had to brave Shania Twain and James Blunt without protection from heavy rain because security people had confiscated their umbrellas. To add soggy insult to drenched injury, they could not get them back afterwards despite asking politely. What next? Must shoes be handed over at the BBC Radio Theatre? Will cinemas take filmgoers’ mobiles and toyshops hold children’s teddies to ransom? Such banditry must be headed off firmly now by an umbrella condemnation.