Yobs torch tents as Reading Festival descends into violence and looting: Music fans leave early as brawls break out, chairs are thrown and thugs start fires in campsite on last day of event
- Videos on social media showed fires burning across the festival site as revellers burned camp equipment
- Fighting and looting was also reported on the festival's final day on Sunday as many left the site early
- A man was arrested in connection with needle spiking at an Arctic Monkeys gig on Saturday but was released
- Do you know these campers or have a festival story? Get in touch: alastair.lockhart@mailonline.co.uk
Revellers left Reading Festival early as fighting, looting and tent-burning broke out on its final day.
Limited security forces struggled to impose order as crowds threw chairs and other objects into large bonfires.
Chaos broke out around 4pm on Sunday, with videos showing fires burning across the Reading campsite attendees.
An eyewitness said fans of rival music genres fought each other as hip-hop and alternative festivalgoers clashed after different acts performed on the same stage after one another.
Much of the campsite was set on fire on the festival's final day, with some still burning on Monday morning
Many said they left the campsite after feeling the atmosphere turn sour as things became more dangerous
Fires were burned in the middle of the Reading Festival campsite as disorder broke out from around 4pm on Sunday
Chairs and other objects were thrown onto the bonfires by crowds at the festival
Many reported online they left the festival early after witnessing the chaos
Fires were still burning today as the aftermath of last night's devastation was revealed
Festivalgoers left a vast expanse of rubbish behind, as tents, chairs and litter behind them. A huge clean-up operation began today
Smoke was still billowing out from the campsite wreckage today after Reading Festival attendees had moved out
Huge crowds made their way out of the festival this morning following the chaos of the night before
A man was also arrested in connection with a needle spiking incident at the Arctic Monkeys headline show on Saturday, and there were several other reports of spiking.
Roads were in gridlock as hundreds of festivalgoers fled the site early as the fighting and tent looting continued.
Fires were lit between tents in the Orange Camp section of the festival in the day, while more fires burned on Sunday night.
Attendee Amber Vellacott, 26, said she and her boyfriend escaped the festival after they found themselves surrounded by violence.
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!
Police said 50 people were ejected from the festival site following the fires and other violent incidents that raged on the campsite yesterday. However, it appear no arrests were made.
They added the festival's security added quickly to get water to the numerous fires and put them out.
One woman told Metro.co.uk she had to rescue her sleeping friend from her tent as flames spread towards her when the fires ran out of control.
A spokesperson for Reading and Leeds Festival did not immediately respond to Mail Online's request for comment. However, Thames Valley Police claims the chaos at Reading Festival was addressed promptly.
'There were some fires in the campsite on Sunday, but festival security had water pumps and extinguished these within minutes,' police said in a statement on Monday.
'There was some disorder in the campsite at about 4.30pm on Sunday, but this was dealt with within minutes by festival security and about fifty people were ejected from the site. Those ejected were safeguarded by the festival organisers, Thames Valley Police, and British Transport Police to ensure they could get home safely.'
Many music fans began their journey home by boat after leaving Reading Festival
Reports of fighting and even cases of needle spiking were reported by attendees
'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.'
Disorder and large fires have been seen at Reading Festival in the past - particularly on its final day.
The 1975 were headlining on Sunday night as the chaos continued, following other big-name acts including The Arctic Monkeys, Dave and Megan Thee Stallion.
The news comes after a 16 year-old boy died at Leeds Festival after a suspected drugs incident.
Yorkshire Police said it was investigating whether he had taken an MDMA pill.
Reading Festival was contacted for comment.
Do you know these campers or have a story about Reading Festival? Get in touch: alastair.lockhart@mailonline.co.uk
Leeds Festival - which ran at the same time - saw a huge amount of debris left strewn across the site as fans left
A huge clean up got under way at Leeds Festival to clear up the rubbish left behind - many tents were abandoned
People wait to leave Leeds Festival earlier today after the end of the three day event
Matty Healy of The 1975 - the band headlined Reading Festival on the final day when the disruption occurred
Left: The Arctic Monkeys also headlined on the main stage on the first day of the festival on Friday. Right: Charlie XCX performs on the main stage at Reading Festival on its final day
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