Isle Of Wight Festival Overcomes Mudbath And Traffic Chaos

Festivalgoers Brave Mudbath At Isle Of Wight

Extra police are to be deployed to help revellers leave at the end of the Isle of Wight Festival after heavy rains turned the site into a mudbath causing traffic chaos.

The festival was affected by a deluge which saw gridlocked drivers forced to sleep in their cars as the car parks had become flooded and inaccessible with mud.

The queues caused ferry companies to suspend their services and about 600 people were stranded on ferries on the Solent as the cars could not disembark due to backed up traffic on the island.

But after emergency car parks were opened off-site yesterday the backlog was cleared and sunshine even broke through the cloud in the afternoon for the festival, which opened with Feeder, followed by Example, Elbow and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Hampshire police announced that extra officers will be brought in to support organisers Solo as they assist the festival-goers as they leave and attempt to remove their vehicles from the muddy car parks on Sunday night and Monday morning.

More than 100 officers and police support staff are involved in patrolling the site and ensuring the safety of those attending the event.

Plans are in place between Hampshire Constabulary, Wightlink and Red Funnel ferries to ensure those who have booked are still able travel even if they miss their crossing time.

Acts taking to the stage on Saturday include Madness, Big Country, Jessie J, Tinie Tempah, Biffy Clyro with the headline slot being taken by Pearl Jam.

The event at Seaclose Park, Newport, will finish tomorrow with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.

Close

What's Hot