Mud mayhem at Isle of Wight pop festival

Drivers stuck in cars for 22 hours

But Noah and the Whale beat floods

Muck 'n roll ... music fan looks on the bright side

UP to 65,000 music fans were mired in chaos yesterday after torrential rain turned the Isle of Wight Festival into a mudbath.

Some were stuck in cars for 22 HOURS waiting to be towed by tractor through the only entrance into boggy car parks.
Solid seven-mile tailbacks from the site to the main docks left ferries from Southampton and Portsmouth unable to unload further drivers.
And revellers who did make it in found the campsite churned into a swamp.
Fans began arriving on Thursday — ready to see stars including Bruce Springsteen, Elbow, Example, Noah and the Whale, Pearl Jam, Tinie Tempah, Jessie J and Noel Gallagher.
But traffic soon ground to a complete halt. Stranded festival-goers had to beg locals to let them use their toilets and give them drinks of water.
Others slept in their vehicles or left them at the roadside to walk to the site.
Organisers vowed the show would go on — and some fans refused to let the mayhem dampen their spirits.

What a site ... festival fans have to pitch their tents in a sea of mud

INS

But James Collins, 24, from Leeds, said: “Everybody was really frustrated and some girls were in tears.” Rachel Hoskins, 27, said: “We came because there is no Glastonbury Festival this year. It’s a disastrous start.”
A group of friends from Romford, Essex, bedded down in their car after parking up at Newport Football Club.

’s Big Top on Thursday night but it had to be evacuated amid fears it would blow over. With later arrivals told to leave cars on the mainland, owners of small boats started charging to take fans across the Solent.

Jam session ... roads are gridlocked as tailbacks lead from the site

Solent

One yacht had to be towed to safety by a lifeboat after its engine failed in a force eight gale. Meanwhile touts and fans who bailed out were reduced to selling £190 tickets on eBay for as little as £38.
The chaos hit the island’s 140,000 residents too, bringing normal life to a standstill.

Pulling power ... van is towed

Children walked up to four miles home from school in the rain. One mum who picked up her child up at 3.15pm only completed the one-mile trip home at 8.30pm.
At least one school shut as teachers could not make it in.

Muddy ... revellers

MP Andrew Turner criticised organisers, saying: “It appears inadequate contingency plans and preparations were in place.”
But IOW Festival promoter John Giddings insisted: “We did everything within our power. I’m really very sorry — but it’s still going to be a great weekend.”

Mudbath ... wellies are a must-have

Today should be dry for fans. But there could be more heavy rain for those trying to leave on Sunday.