A CHRISTMAS fair on a farm had to be closed by police after hundreds of drivers trying to get in caused traffic chaos on a main road.

Demand for the Middle Farm Vintage Christmas Fair on Middle Farm in West Firle, near Lewes, was so great that cars were left parked along the verge of the A27 between Lewes and Polegate where the road is just one lane each way.

The fair on Saturday and Sunday, organised by Firle And Country Events, promised a “unique Christmas experience on the farm” with “hand-picked vintage, antique and artisan quality shopping”, jazz bands and a bar serving mulled wine.

But heavy rain on Saturday bogged down one of the fields where cars were supposed to park and those turning up had to park outside the site, which skirts the edge of the busy road.

A break in the weather saw a surge of people make for the site, resulting in police having to stop entry for about an hour from 12.15pm.

Most people had turned up on the day while others pre-booked. This meant some of the 1,250 people who had pre-booked tickets, costing £5 each, were turned away.

One woman, who did not want to be named, said: “We waited in the car for an hour and then when we got there we couldn’t get in.

“The worse thing was there was no communication from them until the evening. It’s disappointing.”

A Sussex Police spokesman said traffic built up, creating long tailbacks east and westbound on the A27.

He said: “Problems with accessing car parking at the site led to long queues, exacerbated by people parking on roadside verges and walking along the road to the location.

“Following consultation with police, the organisers decided to close the event to further arrivals for a period in a bid to ease congestion.”

Traffic came to a standstill back to the Cuilfail Tunnel in Lewes and the western end of the Lewes bypass.

At the same time, westbound traffic was also building as drivers headed for the Albion football game at the Amex stadium.

Traffic problems continued yesterday, though tailbacks were not as long.

 

Katrina Palsager, event manager of Firle And Country Events, said: “We had tractors and provisions in place for this but still the weather was so severe that it drowned us out basically.

“We were very clear beforehand that people should pre-book because we are a small venue.

“We are very sorry for those people who pre-booked and couldn’t get in. The people who chanced it made it sour for others.”

Anybody who could not get in to the event who had prebooked tickets can get a refund.

Email firlevintage@gmail.com or visit firleandcountry.co.uk.