Music fans flee as tents set alight and fights break out at Reading Festival

Frightened parents contacted police and told their children to leave Reading Festival after tents were reportedly set alight and fights broke out.

The disruptions among some of the music fans in multiple areas of the campsite reportedly began at around 4pm on Sunday afternoon. A number of videos posted online showed crowds of young men and smaller numbers of women gathered throwing chairs and other objects into flames that had been lit next to tents.

Some people on Twitter said that tents had deliberately been set on fire. Festival-goer Amber Vellacott, 26, said she and her boyfriend decided to head to their car at around 7pm on Sunday as they feared the violence would continue to escalate.

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She told the Mirror : “We saw fires start at about 4pm in various camps, the crews & security were fast on them, but all the kids were surrounding and egging it on, throwing rubbish & cans into them.

“We felt the whole vibe of the camp sites change, and when we saw people start picking up tents and rubbish, throwing them into the trees & across the camps, we thought it was best to pack up and head out - annoyingly so!

“But it just didn’t feel safe for two grown adults, let alone all the kids there. When we left at about 7pm, there was a fair bit of security but not masses. More volunteers who dare not get involved - and I can’t blame them.”

The marketing manager added that it was evident the disorder “would get worse” once headline act The 1975 had finished their set.

Fighting among festivalgoers and looting from tents was also said to have taken place. Mum Michelle Farmer wrote on Twitter: “Got a call last night from my son & friends asking