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Isle of Wight festival: Anger over huge queues | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Ticketholders at the Isle of Wight festival have reacted angrily 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. | 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. |