THE Great British weather slowed down a major Hampshire festival.

Up to 60,000 people have been descending on Winchester and villages nearby as BoomTown Fair began in muddy fashion.

With poor weather marring the days leading up to the festival, the event saw a number of traffic issues which were partly caused by muddy car parks.

Thousands of revellers travelled from far and wide to the event which runs until Sunday, and which for the first time has a 60,000 capacity.

Some major roads in Winchester and near the Matterley Bowl, were largely at a standstill, and thousands of revellers used a shuttle-bus service from Winchester Train Station.

Organisers say that due to the recent rain, that there was a "significant" effect on all the car parks, and that getting into BoomTown people had to wait longer than usual.

One concerned resident in Stockbridge Road nearby, said the traffic issues at the event seemed "worse" this year than previously.

However, given that last year's festival had a huge fire which destroyed scores of cars, things were in many ways smoother than 2016.

BoomTown features 160 artists over a huge variety of genres including reggae, folk, jazz, dub, dancehall, ska, house techno and garage.

Headliners will include two tone ska band The Specials, hip hop pioneers Cypress Hill, London rapper M.I.A, Arrested Development, reggae superstar Toots and the Maytals and 90s legends Chaka Demus & Pliers.

This year there is a large police presence including armed officers at the festival, and a drugs warning has been issued following several deaths at the event in recent years.

Last year more than £80,000 worth of substances were seized by police and 186 crimes were reported at the event.