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| Isle of Wight festival: Claims of fights in huge queues | Isle of Wight festival: Claims of fights in huge queues |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ticketholders at the Isle of Wight festival have claimed fights broke out as music fans queued for up to seven hours to get into the event. | Ticketholders at the Isle of Wight festival have claimed fights broke out as music fans queued for up to seven hours to get into the event. |
| Those arriving on Thursday took to Twitter to complain as they waited in 20C temperatures and crowded conditions. | |
| Revellers reported being pushed and shoved inside a "disorganised" crowd at the festival gates. | Revellers reported being pushed and shoved inside a "disorganised" crowd at the festival gates. |
| Organisers apologised and blamed extra security measures for the delays. | Organisers apologised and blamed extra security measures for the delays. |
| Thousands are expected at the festival, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary with headliners Depeche Mode, The Killers and Kasabian. | Thousands are expected at the festival, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary with headliners Depeche Mode, The Killers and Kasabian. |
| 'Wiggly maze of people' | 'Wiggly maze of people' |
| Mistress Lady Tess tweeted: "Something needs to be done. People are fighting each other, absolutely no indication where the queue end is it's like a wiggly maze of people. | Mistress Lady Tess tweeted: "Something needs to be done. People are fighting each other, absolutely no indication where the queue end is it's like a wiggly maze of people. |
| "You need stewards or @HantsPolice back here before there are riots! This heat, lack of water, children about and alcohol involved." | "You need stewards or @HantsPolice back here before there are riots! This heat, lack of water, children about and alcohol involved." |
| Organisers said the good weather had encouraged many people to arrive early. | Organisers said the good weather had encouraged many people to arrive early. |
| A statement said: "We sincerely apologise for the delays in entering the festival today, this is due to extra security measures on the gates. | A statement said: "We sincerely apologise for the delays in entering the festival today, this is due to extra security measures on the gates. |
| "We are doing everything we can and have opened a number of lanes to help get everyone in as quickly and safely as possible." | "We are doing everything we can and have opened a number of lanes to help get everyone in as quickly and safely as possible." |
| But Les Cashmore tweeted: "The security checks are not the issue, it's the total disorganisation of your officials not able to prevent people pushing in & organise some proper queueing measures! It's a disgrace you have not been better organised!" | But Les Cashmore tweeted: "The security checks are not the issue, it's the total disorganisation of your officials not able to prevent people pushing in & organise some proper queueing measures! It's a disgrace you have not been better organised!" |
| Hampshire Constabulary said it had not been called to any fights or disorder at the site. | Hampshire Constabulary said it had not been called to any fights or disorder at the site. |
| The festival runs until Sunday. | The festival runs until Sunday. |