A concert by rock legends AC/DC is to go ahead despite protests by environmental groups, it has emerged. Environmentalists had protested over the site of the gig set to take place at the airfield in Wels, Upper Austria, on 22 May claiming it posed a risk to the offspring of a number of endangered birds.

Upper Austrian Nature Protection Association, WWF Upper Austria and BirdLife Upper Austria wanted the concert relocated or postponed and said it would endanger the second-biggest colony of curlews in the province and 200 pairs of endangered birds that nest on the ground.

But local authorities said after a meeting with concert organisers and environmentalists yesterday (Mon) that "a positive solution" had been found and gave the green light for the concert, which has sold out and is expected to attract 80,000 people.

Under the agreement 90 per cent of the airfield’s area will remain undisturbed by the concert, light and sound will be restricted to a minimum, and the grassy area near the hangar will be re-laid after the event.

In addition, experts will conduct ecological "audits" of the concert area before and after the band’s performance.