Mean Fiddler, which runs the Leeds Festival, had been ordered to pay West Yorkshire Police nearly £300,000 for its services at the event in 2003.

But Appeal Court judges said they were not "special police services" and could not be recovered from the promoter.

Lord Justice Baker said the ruling had implications for major events and any large gatherings of the public.

He said the court was being asked to decide on the dividing line between services the police must provide as part of its public duty and special services provided at the request of promoters, for which promoters must pay.