Washout festival forced to close
THE final day of a music festival was cancelled over health and safety fears yesterday after the site was hit by driving rain and gale force winds.
Downpours flooded many tents and others were knocked over by 50mph winds at Camp Bestival, causing bosses to shut all of the stages.
The family-orientated festival, held at Lulworth Castle in Dorset, is attended by 30,000 people a year. Scottish band Simple Minds, who had been due to close the festival last night, confirmed that their set had been cancelled.
The weekend is a spin-off of the Bestival festival, which will also be held on the Lulworth Estate this coming weekend.
Prior to the cancellation, highlights this year had included an unexpected appearance of former Bake Off presenter Mary Berry playing the drums for 1980s singer Rick Astley, on Friday night. But miserable-looking festivalgoers were left drenched as they packed up their battered tents yesterday.
One staff member said all areas were ‘shut down’ and the weather had been so severe trees had come down on the site. Festival-goer Glen Marvell James said on Twitter that his tent was leaking and his seven-year-old was getting ‘very agitated’.
Camp Bestival, launched in 2008, is organised by BBC Radio 1 DJ Rob da Bank, real name Robert Gorham.
In a message to campers, Mr Gorham said: ‘The weather gods have not been so kind today. We’ve argued and fought since 5am with them but we’ve had to throw in the towel... thanks for all your support and patience.’