Standon Calling festival abandoned due to flooding

A music festival was cancelled during its final day due to serious flooding.

Standon Calling in Hertfordshire was called off on Sunday night.

Organisers of the festival, which had a capacity of 15,000, said it could not proceed due to flooding and risk of lightning.

Hertfordshire Police said it worked with organisers to get "everyone off site as safely and quickly as possible".

Roads surrounding the site were blocked as festival-goers left and police advised people to avoid the area.

BBC Look East cameraman DJ McLaren headed out to Standon Calling on Sunday to catch De La Soul.

"Well, that didn't happen," he said.

"Instead I sat in my car from about 17:00 watching the rain and lightning - and listening to the thunder.

"The level of water that fell was just unbelievable."

He said festival organisers asked people to get somewhere safe, "but lots of them just fled, and the exit gate was rammed".

"When the rain finally stopped, the damage was clear.

"People were calf-muscle deep in water in places, and lots of them were trying to leave, carrying tents, quilts and pillows."

Calling off the festival was "desperately sad", he said, but added: "They had three out of four beautiful days.

"And everyone seemed in good spirits - the stewards were lovely, and everyone was helping each other out."

Craig David, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Primal Scream and De La Soul were among the acts due to play on Sunday.

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