RESIDENTS living near to the Sunshine Festival have blamed the popular event for the traffic chaos in Upton-Upon-Severn.

The B4211 and A4101 roads into Upton experienced heavy traffic delays yesterday morning (Thursday, August 22).

Residents and commuters slammed the festival for the gridlock, claiming emergency services couldn't get through the traffic.

There were reports of the roads in chaos as early as 7am yesterday morning (Thursday).

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We have attempted to contact festival organisers but they have not provided a response.

The AA reported the long delays two hours later, with heavy traffic stretches north of Holly Green, at the roundabout where the A38 meets the A4104.

Traffic was also heavy north-east of Upton upon Severn on the B4211 while the town centre was also gridlocked.

One person said they should open the gates at midday rather than in the morning when the roads were at their busiest. 

Another commuter told the Gazette: “It was completely and utterly blocked and I think it's dangerous. 

"Even some police couldn't get through. 

"It's so bad, because of the river crossing it's really dangerous because if emergency services can't get through that could be a huge problem. 

"From every direction coming through town, it was catastrophic, I wish someone could have got a drone overhead as it would have looked like a spider's web there. 

“I avoided the area last year but going through this time I thought it was a risk to life. 

“They haven't planned for the numbers, this isn't Glastonbury with all the facilities that are there beforehand, there is no signage to divert people and no diversions. 

"Whoever has organised this needs to consider what they have done." 

The Sunshine Music Festival began at Fish Meadow yesterday and will run until Sunday, August 25. 

More than 8,000 people will arrive in Upton-upon-Severn over the August bank holiday to visit the annual Sunshine Music Festival which has been held for the last 14 years. 

The festival consisted of six stages each having its own style and theme with more than 85 artists planned to perform across the four days.