Festivalgoers and locals have complained of traffic chaos which ruined a music festival.

The Northern Kin Festival in County Durham became beleaguered by problems with cars getting stuck in mud and huge tailbacks as organisers were forced to apologise.

Long queues started forming on Friday with many complaining of delays of more than an hour passing the festival site at Ushaw, near Durham.

Read more: Cars stuck in mud, traffic jams and 'horrendous' toilets mar County Durham festival

The waterlogged site became a muddy quagmire with vehicles being towed from the site by tractors after becoming stuck in the soft ground.

The Northern Echo: The road at the festival was covered in mud with cars parked on embankments outside to avoid the quagmire on site.The road at the festival was covered in mud with cars parked on embankments outside to avoid the quagmire on site. (Image: PAUL NORRIS)

Organisers have been forced to bring in tractors and plant machinery to release those stuck on Monday, once the festival has finished.

A spokesperson said: “We will have our full team of three heavy plant operators and five tractor drivers to support egress.

“We expect to be able to tow over 80 vehicles per hour to the tracking to be able to safely leave the site.

“Our count on main site vehicles means that we’re expecting therefore to be able to start at 7am and, even if every single vehicle had to be towed without exception, have everyone cleared in full by 4pm.

The Northern Echo: Traffic jams in Ushaw Moor caused chaos on Friday as festivalgoers tried to make it to the site for a weekend of music.Traffic jams in Ushaw Moor caused chaos on Friday as festivalgoers tried to make it to the site for a weekend of music. (Image: Contributor)

“The weather and the ground are poor, we know, but there are amazing bands, superb production and one last day of fantastic live music ahead of us.”

Some attendees resorted to paying a farmer with a tractor to get off the site sooner.

There were also complaints of traffic jams blocking neighbouring villages on Friday and poor toilets and wash facilities.

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Sue Hill, who was attending the festival for the first time, told how there was no hand washing facilities or water on her site, and that there were only five showers.

The Northern Echo: Cars lined the roadside outside the site.Cars lined the roadside outside the site. (Image: PAUL NORRIS)

She said: “My first time at Northern Kin. I won't be back. It’s shambolic, vehicles stuck everywhere and having to be towed.

“Toilets are minging and no hand washing facilities, no water on site 3. We have to walk ten mins to fetch water from by the arena, haven’t tried the showers as there are only five for the whole site, long queues to get wrist band, long queues to get into the arena at 4pm only to be told now opening at 6.

“Bands started at 6pm playing to no-one as everyone still queuing.

“God knows what it will be like trying to get off site. It took two-and-a-half hours to get on (the last half mile). I'm tempted to leave today but are so packed in I don't think I can get out safely.”

The Northern Echo: The site quickly became a muddy mess.The site quickly became a muddy mess. (Image: Contributor)

Northern Kin added: “We are completely aware of the issues and would struggle to convey how sorry we are about the issues.”

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One annoyed festivalgoer reportedly ‘spat in the face’ of a disabled worker, organisers said on Sunday, as they urged crowds not to take their frustration out on stewards.

The weekend line up included Bill Bailey, Lindisfarne, The Levellers and Jethro Tull, among others.

Durham County Council said: “Any issues raised around this particular event will be reported through to the relevant agency for further investigation with the festival organisers.”