An estimated 300 vehicles are reported to have been trapped in fields following a fireworks display at Cattows Farm in Heather on Saturday night.

A statement was issued by charity organisation Leicestershire & Rutland 4x4 Response explaining the situation.

Cattows Farm staged the AfterDark Fireworks event at its site between Ibstock and Ashby.

Off-road field parking was provided for vehicles attending the display. But heavy rain during the day meant that the land became treacherous, muddy and waterlogged.

That resulted in vehicles, their owners and families having to be rescued until just before 11pm.

The 4x4 Response Team's statement read: "Our team has responded to an ongoing situation where members of the public found themselves stranded in off-road field parking at a third party event at Cattows Farm near Ibstock following a fireworks event. It has now been resolved as of 22:50.

"The events company renting out Cattows Farm reached out to Derbyshire 4x4 Response. After the group coordinated with our team (in Leicestershire), they agreed to provide some responders to cover during the day.

"Regrettably, ground conditions deteriorated throughout the day, despite efforts to establish firmer roads on-site, overwhelming the responders there from Derbyshire .

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"As the situation escalated dramatically tonight, the events company organising the fireworks event once again requested direct assistance from us to provide further specialist 4x4 support supporting Derbyshire response to extract trapped families and their cars from the car parks.

Photo: Leicestershire 4x4 Response Team Facebook page

"Our initial responders arrived at 19:45, led by our control coordinator, Karl, to formulate a plan and we had multiple responders arriving there till late evening until all the trapped families were safely back on the roads."

The 4x4 team provided updates during the evening on social medua, and said at one point: "Ground conditions are so bad that even our responders are struggling to access parts of the car park fields.

"Waffle boards being deployed in some areas of deep mud. Latest update 2048 is that it could be hours ahead to extract all families.

"We estimate 300 cars are still stranded on site. We have 10 4x4s from our group there with another winch equipped truck on route from Rutland.

"We need towing eye bolts fitted though so if you are stranded pls locate and fit to save us time Normally kept in the spare wheel area in boot or glove box."

Social media sites also reported heavy, static traffic around Heather as people drove to the event.

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A contributor to Spotted Heather said: "Traffic jam through the village is disgusting."

Another added: 'It took me over an hour to get from just before the Swepstone Road entrance to The Crown, nearly missed the display we were going to, people were literally parking everywhere, getting stuck on grass verges and I witnessed so many near misses.

"I'm all for events, but it is an accident waiting to happen."

Another comment said: "Out of desperation and frustration, some people were driving around the traffic jam to try take an exit, then blocking onward traffic, putting so many at risk. Nightmare."

Cattows Farm has been contacted for further comment.