The big clean-up at Weston Park was today well under way after last weekend’s V Festival, with more than 400 tons of rubbish expected to be picked up.

Torrential rain and up to 90,000 revellers transformed the grounds of the stately home into a muddy mess, littered with thousands of abandoned tents and camping gear.

Staff have also been left to pick up tens of thousands of cups, bottles, pizza boxes and cigarette butts. The gates to this year’s festival opened a day early to reduce jams, meaning an extra 24 hours of rubbish for the 200 litter pickers.

The Rotary Club of Brewood & District was on site yesterday to collect the salvageable camping gear, which will be donated to an overseas charity.

Brewood and Coven councillor Michael Hampson described the scene as a “sea of tents”.

Weston Park chief executive Colin Sweeney said today: “Plans are being implemented to ensure there is minimal damage to the site and to make sure the park recovers fully for up-and-coming events.”

The park is due to reopen to the public on Thursday.