TERRIFIED revellers were forced to flee Reading Festival after tents were set alight and brawls broke out on the final night, leading to armed cops being called in.
Yobs torched camping gear, trampled tents and hurled chairs on bonfires amid ugly scenes at the Berkshire music event.
Some even went looting as armed police were called in to control the mob.
Shocking video shows armed officers wielding assault rifles as they storm the crowds to break up brawls.
Some festival-goers said they decided to leave on the final night of the event amid fears for their safety.
Amber Vellacourt told The Mirror: “We saw fires start at about 4pm in various camps, the crews & security were fast on them, but all the kids were surrounding and egging it on, throwing rubbish & cans into them.
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“We felt the whole vibe of the camp sites change, and when we saw people start picking up tents and rubbish, throwing them into the trees & across the camps, we thought it was best to pack up and head out – annoyingly so!
“But it just didn’t feel safe for two grown adults, let alone all the kids there. When we left at about 7pm, there was a fair bit of security but not masses.
“More volunteers who dare not get involved – and I can’t blame them.”
Worried parents also took to social media to express their horror over the mayhem.
One claimed her daughter was “stabbed with a needle” in the leg as she waited for the toilets at the main stage.
Another told how she had she to pick her son and his three friends up after tents were trampled and set alight.
Last night’s scenes are a common occurrence on the final night of the annual three-day festival.
Thames Valley Police said: “There were some fires in the campsite on Sunday, but festival security had water pumps and extinguished these within minutes.
“There was some disorder in the campsite at about 4.30pm on Sunday, but this was dealt with within minutes by festival security and about fifty people were ejected from the site.
“Those ejected were safeguarded by the festival organisers, Thames Valley Police, and British Transport Police to ensure they could get home safely.”
This year saw thousands of music fans descend on the site to watch headliners including Dave, Arctic Monkeys and The 1975.
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It comes after a 16-year-old boy died following a suspected drug overdose at sister event Leeds Festival on Saturday.
A police investigation has been launched into the teen’s death.
Smoke fills the air after tents were set alight[/caption]
Aerial pictures taken today show tents still burning[/caption]
The clean up operation at the site has begun[/caption]
The three-day event attracted huge crowds of music fans[/caption]
