The organisers of the Download Festival in the East Midlands are investigating what they call “unprecedented” congestion ahead of this year’s event.

Thousands arriving at Donington Park in Leicestershire on Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 June led to long delays on the M1, A50 and A453 with some people waiting seven hours to get onto the site.

In a statement, organisers Live Nation Entertainment said a number of traffic management debrief meetings had taken place since the event, and that it believed a higher attendance, an increased number of vehicles and issues over travel routes to car parks were the main contributing factors to the delays.

In a statement the company said: “We recognise that the level of traffic congestion was unprecedented and not acceptable due to the effect it had on our customers and the local community.

“As organisers of the festival, we have committed to a full review of the traffic management plan and information that was provided to ticket holders relating to the route to designated car parks.”

(Picture – National Highways Twitter)