Express & Star

V Festival exodus brings more traffic misery

Tens of thousands of revellers headed home from the V Festival today, clogging up roads and causing delays for drivers.

Published

Routes around Weston Park were blocked with queuing cars and all major routes in the area hit as a huge clean-up operation got under way at the site.

From early today queues were building up along the M54 around junction 3 at Albrighton, while the A5 was congested between the A41 and A449 at Gailey Island. There was also heavy traffic on the M6 southbound between the A5 at junction 12 and junction 10 for Walsall.

The problems were expected to get worse throughout the day as festival goers packed up and headed home. Thousands of abandoned tents, deckchairs, sleeping bags and clothing were left behind and being gathered up today.

More than 500 volunteers, including members of Brewood and District Rotary Club, were collecting the gear to send to countries in need.

Rotarian Keith Gater, who is helping organise the clean-up, said between 3,000 and 5,000 tents were expected to be left behind by festival-goers.

He added: "It's hard work but we do this every year and everyone joins together to help out."

More than 95,000 people flocked to the site over the weekend to see headliners Beyonce and Kings of Leon who wowed the crowds along with performances by such big hitters as Jessie J, Stereophonics and The Script.

An on-site medical centre treated 1,385 people over the weekend, while West Midlands Ambulance service was called there on 279 occasions, with 30 people taken to hospital.

Ambulance service spokesman Steve Parry said: "With thousands of people all in one place, it's always expected that some people will fall ill and require medical help. At Weston Park, the team of almost 300 staff and volunteers were on hand and have worked extremely hard to ensure every patient is given the very best treatment."

Police were also breathalysing motorists to make sure local roads were safe.

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