A new artist-led campaign has been launched to encourage the UK Government to work to reduce the costs and red tape facing musicians touring Europe.

Music stars including Sir Elton John and Radiohead are putting pressure on the government to resolve the problems around post-Brexit EU touring.

Some of the UK's biggest music stars have written to the government demanding action to ensure visa-free touring in the European Union.

Reports suggest a ‘standard’ proposal to exempt British performers from escalating costs for 90 days was turned down because the Government didn’t want to offer European performers the same deal when they visit the UK.

Radiohead's bassist has said he is "worried the UK government doesn't understand cultural capital", as the band joined calls for what the industry called a fair deal for UK concert hauliers.

‘Europe was crucial to our growth as a band,’ said bassist Colin Greenwood.

‘The government has to take this issue seriously and support touring artists. The future of British music is at stake’

Sir Elton John has described the government as "philistines", and accused them of failing to understand the implications of Brexit on music.

The Independent understands that ‘standard’ proposal exempting musicians from visa process was rejected because the government is denying that same right to EU artists visiting the UK.

New analysis suggests that in the first post-Brexit festival season, the number of British bands playing festivals across Europe has fallen by almost half.

Stars including Radiohead, Biffy Clyro and Ghostpoet are urging the government to make touring Europe easier, to prevent "the collapse of the industry".