ORGANISERS of an international motocross meeting could face legal action over the event which was marred by traffic chaos.

Thousands of people were stuck for hours around Matterley Basin, east of Winchester after hundreds abandoned their vehicles on local roads and walked into the event.

Drivers were so desperate to get out of the event that they broke through barbed wire fences and drove through hedges along the A272.

The traffic management both inside and outside the site has been criticised by the police and nearby residents.

Police and city council officials met yesterday to discuss what went wrong and whether to take further action.

The event itself was a huge success, attracting tens of thousands to the Motocross of Nations, featuring top riders from across the world. The local economy received a multi-million pound boost with hotels, restaurants and pubs reporting good business.

Police estimate the numbers at 30,000 people but organiser Steve Dixon reckoned it was 60,000.

Most local people are furious at the alleged poor organisation. For the well-established Homelands and Hi-Fi event no parking is allowed on local roads. But last weekend there was a parking free-for-all.

Shaun Bellairs-Wray, of Alresford Road, said: "It was traffic chaos and very dangerous too. Trying to get out of my drive was almost impossible. I have never seen traffic like it. It was a complete mess.

"A police officer said to me it was carnage inside the event as well as outside. There was no traffic management."

Robert Heathcock, head of environment at the city council, said: "We are investigating what led to the problems and will decide what to do next. (Legal action) is always a possibility."

Mr Heathcock said he understood the police may press for recovering the full cost of policing.

Police Supt Gareth Jones said: "Around 30,000 visitors attended the event and it quickly became clear that security and stewarding levels were not adequate.

"Both the size of the crowd and the volume of traffic became unmanageable for the organisers and they called for police assistance. The police and city council will meet to review the weekend's events and establish whether it is appropriate to take any action against the organisers."

Mr Dixon said the event was hit by rain on Friday and then the unforeseen closure of the A31 after a serious road crash at 4.45am on Sunday.

He added: "The event itself went brilliantly. It was the greatest event ever in the history of motocross. Everybody coped exceedingly well under the circumstances. It was not foreseen that so many people would come. We had 25,000 at the event in June. We thought maybe 30,000 this time. But we dealt with the situation and coped."