Revellers pitch up tents as Download gets underway and festival boss apologises ... trends now
Tens of thousands of music fans have pitched up their tents as Download gets underway - after the festival's boss apologised for major travel chaos getting to the venue.
Severe delays were reported around the site at Castle Donington, Leicestershire, throughout Wednesday and continued as more revellers endured hours of traffic ahead of arriving today.
John Probyn, the festival manager, said its organisers were working with the local council and transport agencies to minimise the disruption that also caused passengers to miss flights at nearby East Midlands Airport.
Warnings of further travel chaos have been issued as thousands more revellers are set to arrive with single-day tickets over the weekend.
And festival-goers are also facing the threat of thunderstorms this weekend, with heavy rain and hail set to batter the UK amid soaring temperatures.
Tens of thousands of revellers arrived at Download Festival today ahead of a weekend of live performances
Festival-goers walk along a path surrounded by tents after enduring travel chaos just to get to the event
Severe delays were reported around the site at Castle Donington, Leicestershire, throughout Wednesday and continued as more revellers endured hours of traffic ahead of arriving today
Revellers were left furious by the chaos they faced getting to the festival, describing the situation as an 'absolute shambles'.
One said: 'Traffic was definitely not moving steadily. It was gridlock. We sat in a traffic jam for 4 hours before we called it and left. So disappointing but we would never have made it.'
Another added: 'The whole area is gridlock for more than 12 miles thanks to you.'
Mr Probyn apologised for the travel mayhem, saying: 'We apologise for the delays for customers coming on site today.
'We have been working continuously since first reports this morning with the local authority and transport agencies to minimise these delays,'
National
