Cheltenham Festival punters in car park chaos rage as they're stuck in mud for hours after races

Racegoers at the Cheltenham Festival were stuck in a muddy mess after the event's car park turned into a swamp due to heavy rain as spectators described the situation as "absolute bedlam".

Downpours on Tuesday turned the parking area into mud, causing traffic jams for thousands of festival attendees who were attempting to return home. Vehicles trapped in muck and massive queues, some lasting two hours, were reported.

A frustrated fan shared a video showing a long string of cars trying to exit, stuck in the dark after the day's racing had ended. He commented on social media: "Racing finished an hour and 10 mins ago. Absolute bedlam in the car park. No cars moving at all, stuck everywhere with no help. £30 per car. Come racing they say! ! ! ! ". His update came later when he stated: "Update lads... 2 hours after racing. Car still down the hill and no movement whatsoever."

Another captured video showed spectators lending a hand to push a vehicle travelling through the mud, while others sang cheerfully: "You're not going home!", reports the Mirror. Tuesday saw more than 60,000 people attend the four-day festival, with locations like the betting areas and Guinness Village teeming with crowds. Racing star Rachael Blackmore took centre stage with her victory in the Supreme Novice Hurdle riding Slade Steel.

Spectators who paid between £67 and £85 for tickets voiced their disappointment about being stuck in traffic for extensive periods. Rainfall accumulation added up to a surprising 6mm overnight, and similar, unanticipated weather conditions are expected to follow.

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