Pop, but no alcohol in the park

London's Live8 will be strictly alcohol-free, organisers of the all-day event have announced. But star acts and VIP guests will have bars.

The concert on Saturday will see 205,000 music fans descend on Hyde Park from 1pm to 9.30pm.

However, the only beverages served in the main site will be water and soft drinks, while tickets warn that bringing any sort of bottles and cans is strictly outlawed.

A Royal Parks spokesman confirmed: "The Live8 site will be dry. Nothing alcoholic will be sold and, according to the terms and conditions, people aren't going to be able to bring anything in with them."

He said the no-drinks rule was standard for similar Hyde Park events, despite the fact that last weekend's Wireless Festival laid on stalls including a margarita bar, champagne and Pimm's area and real-ale and Smirnoff tents. The Glastonbury Festival, which hosts around 120,000 people, also provides alcohol.

"Live8 isn't a festival, it's a concert and there are huge numbers of people entering the site, beyond anything we've had before," the spokesman said.

"It's usual not to have alcohol available at this sort of event - it's an issue of public safety. Party In The Park has the same regulations, for the simple fact of numbers of people."

But there will be bars in the backstage and so-called "golden circle" areas for about 5,000 VIPs, corporate guests and a select number of competition winners.

One ticket holder, who won access to the concert through the text lottery, said: "It doesn't seem at all fair that the so-called VIPs can drink and the rest of us will have to make do with water and fizzy drinks.

"It's the first concert I've been to that doesn't allow alcohol - and given that it's an all-day affair and not just a couple of hours it does seem rather harsh. I don't think people will be aware of this at all."

The Royal Parks are providing 500 stewards, while Met police officers will also patrol the site.

Although the exact details have not be formalised, refreshments and food outlets will be available for the estimated 55,000 who will watch the concert on giant screens near the Serpentine

Meanwhile, Ricky Gervais has penned two new comedy sketches to be shown at Live8. The Office star spoofs 1940s-style public information films in two "shorts" to be screened.