Thousands of revellers heading to the V Festival at Weston Park caused traffic misery today – with tailbacks of up to 11 miles reported before the gates had even opened.

Police warned motorists that the problems are likely to continue tonight.

The A5 was particularly badly affected, with queues snaking back more than 11 miles from the stately home on the Shropshire/Staffordshire border to Junction 11 of the M6 at Cannock.

Sergeant Ian Gould, of Staffordshire Police, said: “The latest update I have had from troops on the ground is it is gridlocked as far back as Cannock.

“Speeding is certainly not a problem.

“I think this is an issue which will be there until later this evening.”

The festival proper does not start until tomorrow, but with more than 90,000 people expected the park opened today for campers to pitch up.

Vehicles

Graham Smith, of AA Traffic Master, said: “Our advice for the immediate area around Weston-under-Lizard is if you don’t have to travel there then stay away.

“Anyone who has to use the M6 and the M54 in the area should expect exceptionally heavy traffic for most of the day.”

Traffic was also heavy on the A449.

Mr Smith added that the M54 between the M6 and A41 junctions was normally a fairly quiet section of road where 10 to15 vehicles were recorded every four minutes but from 6.30 to 7.30am today there were about 10 times as many.

This year’s VFestival, the 14th, features headline acts like Oasis, The Killers and Elbow and will run at both Weston Park and Hylands Park, in Essex.

Other acts due on stage are Razorlight, Snow Patrol, Keane, Fatboy Slim, Pete Doherty, Lily Allen and James Morrison.

Festival organisers have mounted a huge operation to ensure this year’s event runs successfully across both sites and police have stepped up CCTV surveillance on the site, including the use of infra-red, thermal cameras.

Officers have also warned that they will clamp down on people who try to steal from tents or who deal drugs and any CCTV images could be used in prosecutions.

By Simon Hardy