WINCHESTER and surrounding roads for several miles in all directions on August 15 were gridlocked.

Some were blaming the festival and it’s fire problems and there was evidence of a few ash covered vehicles departing the area on various roads, but even approaching the city from north, south, east or wets, all routes were manic.

Travel information via radio was non-existent in the 60 minutes it took us to travel 16 miles on motorways and A routes.

Derek Snowdon, Otterbourne