Top artists have pulled out of a popular annual music festival over its ties to Israel.
Organisers of The Great Escape music festival - which hosts more than 500 artists at venues across Brighton - are scrambling to keep the show on the road as bands, labels and even a venue has boycotted the event.
The sponsor Barclays has come under fire for its investment in companies which supply weaponry to Israel amid the ongoing conflict with Hamas.
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More than half of the festival's line up, including the Lambrini Girls, Kneecap and Alfie Templeman have signed an open letter calling on the festival to cut its ties with the bank.
More than 20 of those bands have now joined a boycott which was started by Bristol band The Menstrual Cramps and promoter How To Catch A Pig ahead of the festival weekend in May.
The Menstrual Cramps issued a joint statement on the boycott:
"As a political punk band, we cannot be complicit in glorifying the industries that fund this violence.
"We cannot let our creative outputs become smokescreens behind which money is funded into war and the killing of our planet.
"We hope that us taking a stand enables and empowers other artists to take a stand."
Daltons, a music venue under the Brighton Zip, has also pulled out of hosting gigs during the festival.
Brighton band the Lambrini Girls also joined the protest. A statement posted on their social media page read:
What we will always do is bring conversations about modern day atrocities in front of mainstream audiences.
We are, and always will, remain committed to sparking conversations about global issues, educating ourselves and others, and utilising our platform to effect change in any way we can.
Fans have reported seeing the festival deleting their comments about the boycott on its social media accounts.
Labels Alcopop! and Big Scary Monsters have also announced they will not be taking part in the festival.
Alcopop made a statement in support of its campaign.
"Looking back a few weeks ago, we were really looking forward to The Great Escape. Hands down the best multi-venue festival in the UK, they do sterling work for up-and-coming bands and have welcomed us back to host our stage year after year.
"However, when The Menstrual Cramps and How To Catch a Pig explained the Barclaycard situation, we felt strongly about standing in solidarity and stepping away from the line-up.
"To be associating our label with Barclays doesn't sit right with our ethical standpoint, and if we can do anything to help raise awareness, we will."
The Great Escape is still due to go ahead on May 15 until May 18 across 30 venues across Brighton - along with a dedicated festival site on the beach near Madeira Drive.
Headlining the festival is singer Faye Webster.
The Argus contacted The Great Escape regarding the boycott but it was not able to comment.
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