DISCO legends Boney M are to headline one of Scotland’s biggest music festivals  - which has pledged to continue despite soaring police costs.

The 70s chart-toppers known for hits such as Rivers of Babylon, Mary's Boy Child, Ma Baker and Rasputin will headline the Eden Festival on the Sunday of the event which runs from June 8 to 11.

US gypsy punk band Gogol Bordello are also headlining the festival which is held at Raehills Meadows near Moffat, Dumfries and Galloway. 

Read more: Ayr Flower Show axed after row over funding

More than 8000 are expected to gather for the seven-year-old festival which has stressed it is continuing in the wake of the demise of the neighbouring Wickerman Festival.  

The Eden organisers had warned that the trebling of policing music festivals has been putting some of Scotland's best loved festivals including the Wickerman at risk.

They have previously warned that flagship community events in Dumfries and Galloway could be forced to relocate because of soaring police costs, which are not being replicated across the rest of Scotland.

Read more: Ayr Flower Show axed after row over funding

In 2015, the policing bill for the Eden festival was £12,000 for a licensed audience of 8,000. In 2016, it went up to £38,000, an increase of more than 300 per cent.

The Herald:

Boney M now

"We have set the ticket price, and we are going forward this year," said Mr Curtis.

The festival has called for a fair and transparent approach to policing and a re-instatement of the 50% discount for not-for-profit events, like Eden in Dumfries and Galloway.  

Police costs had been cited as partly to blame for the scrapping of one of the Wickerman Festival after 14 years.

Read more: Ayr Flower Show axed after row over funding

The two-day award winning Wickerman Festival, inspired by the cult 1970s film of the same name, had been held at East Kirkcarswell Farm 25 miles south west of Dumfries since 2002 when the counter-culture music bash attracted less than 2000 people.

The Herald:

Police Scotland insists that policing costs were being transferred on to festivals because they were “commercial enterprises” and are no longer entitled to discounts.

Also lined up to play at Eden are London hip hop combo So Solid Crew, Glasgow folk rockers Admiral Fallow and blues rockers Alabama 3.

Eden co-director Meredith Langley Vine: “We are really excited to have Boney M as the Sunday headliner, they are sure to add a bit of fun, sparkle and disco to festivals finale."