A leading UK electronic music festival is returning once again to Bygrave Woods near Ashwell – and has more on offer than ever before.

Farr Festival started in 2009 when a small gathering of like-minded friends met at the woods in Newnham to enjoy electronic music.

It has turned into one of UK’s go-to festivals of its kind, bringing an array of international musical talent to the tranquil North Herts woods.

Now in its eighth year, the show will venture deeper into the woods, boasting new stages, daytime experiences and of an eclectic medley of producers, selectors and performers.

The line-up includes Todd Terje, Booka Shade, Nao, Mano Le Tough, DJ Tennis, Axel Boman, Helena Hauff, Craig Richards, Or:la and Honey Dijon.

New to Farr Festival this year is The Factory, a supersized main stage of 52 shipping containers arranged into a rectangle formation that will accommodate 2,500 people.

Other stages include the Shack – a ramshackle structure adorned with a Funktion-One sound system – The Hidden Palace, and the Adventures in Success stage.

The campsite is a five-minute walk from the festival, and there are stalls selling food, bars, parking, and luxury shower passes available to buy.

Herts police have issued crime prevention and safety advice to people who are heading to the festival.

Supt Catherine Akehurst, who is leading the policing operation, said: “We want people who come to the event to enjoy themselves and remain safe.

“We have been in continuous contact with the organisers in the lead up to this event and will be liaising with them right across the weekend.

“We would also like to make local residents aware that there may be some disruption in the roads around the site due to the levels of traffic arriving and leaving Bygrave Woods and Newnham.

“While security and stewards are there to ensure people enjoy the event, sadly we do know some criminals target events like these. We will be making use of intelligence and automatic number plate recognition outside the site to identify those who may attempt to target people who are there to have fun.

“I would also ask festival goers to consider some simple crime prevention and safety advice to help us. The best thing is to leave valuables at home or use the lockers on site. You can also help by reporting any suspicious activity to security.”

Police advice is to leave valuables at home, register any expensive items – like phones or cameras – at www.immobilise.com so if they are stolen and recovered they can be returned quickly to you, make sure anything of value you leave in your car is hidden before you arrive, and if you have a sat nav, move it out of sight and get rid of all suction marks on the windscreen.

You could also open your glove compartment to show that there is nothing of value left in the vehicle.

Regarding alcohol, police advice is to know your limits and drink responsibly – stop when you know you have had enough. You can also alternate drinks with soft drinks or low alcohol ones, drink more slowly and consume alcohol with food, and make sure you and your friends all look after one another and get home safely.

Farr Festival opens on Thursday from 12 noon, and music commencing an hour later. The gates close at 9am on Sunday, and the campsite closes at 4pm that day.

For the full line-up, tickets and information on everything Farr Festival has to offer, go to www.farrfestival.co.uk.