Reading Festival crowds were seen picking their way through muddy puddles on Monday morning as the bank holiday event ended with a rain-soaked exodus from the site.
The three-day music festival wrapped up on Sunday night following a packed weekend of performances, with headline sets from Charli XCX, Chase & Status, Dave, Florence + The Machine, Fontaines DC and Raye.
Thousands of fans had poured into Little John’s Farm before the gates officially opened on Friday, with some keen campers arriving as early as Thursday to secure their spots.
However, persistent heavy showers swept across the Reading Festival site throughout the weekend, forcing revellers to swap summer outfits for wellies, ponchos and waterproof jackets.
The Met Office placed the area under a yellow weather warning on Saturday amid fears of flooding, hail and lightning, while several acts performed through bouts of torrential rain.
Festivalgoers largely kept spirits high despite the bleak conditions, spending the weekend singing, dancing and partying, but the atmosphere appeared noticeably wearier as campers headed for home this morning.
Many were photographed leaving the grounds in mud-splattered pyjamas and boots, while abandoned tents appeared to be scattered across parts of the campsite.
Thousands of revellers were seen making their muddy departure from Reading Festival after a weekend dominated by heavy rain
One girl resorted to wrapping her blow-up bed around her shoulders in an attempt to fight off the cold as she walked along the Thames
Another was pictured taking a rest on top of her overnight bag, which appeared damp after a rain-filled weekend
The festival was beset by torrential rain after the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for flooding on Saturday
Many festivalgoers opted to leave the site donning dirtied pyjamas and wellies
Thousands of tents and a huge amount of rubbish were left strewn across the floor
One girl resorted to wrapping her blow up bed around her in an attempt to fight off the cold as she strolled along the River Thames.
Another was meanwhile pictured taking a rest on top of her overnight bag, which appeared damp after a rain-filled weekend.
Elsewhere, back at the campsite, festivalgoers discarded of thousands of tents while huge piles of rubbish were left strewn across the floor.
And hundreds also opted to leave behind pillows, rucksacks and items of clothing that had been rendered all but ruined in the mud.
Yet the soaking conditions which beset the Bank Holiday weekend do not appear to be subsiding just yet.
The Met Office’s forecast suggests western areas of Britain will be hit by heavy rain once again on Monday, with the ‘odd rumble’ of thunder also expected.
The west is expected to become drier later today, though the north could experience ‘longer spells’ of rain overnight.
The forecast for Monday read: ‘Many areas are starting dry with variable amounts of cloud, although showers already affecting western areas will become more widespread.
‘These showers locally will be heavy, with the odd rumble of thunder. It will become drier in the west later.
‘A few showers across the north and west will merge overnight to give some longer spells of rain. Elsewhere, it will become largely dry with clear spells. ‘
Images show how pillows, bed sheets and items of clothing were rendered all but ruined
A single welly is seen left behind on the festival’s grounds
A festivalgoer drags bags, camping chairs and rubbish out of Reading Festival
A bag lays strewn on the floor following a weekend of heavy downpours at the event
British rapper Skepta performs with his hood up as rain batters Reading’s The Grid stage on Friday
London-born singer Raye took to the stage on the festival’s closing night
Florence + The Machine headlined the event’s final night on Sunday
Showers are indeed forecast to continue throughout this week, with some areas set to experience longer spells of rain. The temperature is expected to be ‘normal for early September’.
Chief Forecaster for the Met Office, Dan Suri, said: ‘The coming week will be changeable with all areas seeing a mixture of showers or longer spells of rain with some brighter, drier intervals in between.
‘The best of the weather is expected over southeastern UK where there will be some warm sunshine at times.
‘Otherwise, daytime temperatures are expected to be close to average for early September whilst many areas will remain relatively mild overnight.’
Reading’s 55th year saw a host of stars take to the festival’s six stages.
Fresh off the release of her new album Music, Fashion, Film, the rain subsided as Charli XCX opened up the weekend on Friday night.
The event’s first night, meanwhile, also saw performances from Fontaines D.C and Shutdown hitmaker Skepta.
Saturday then saw Dave, Raye and American rapper Gunna take to the stage after a performance from ex-Little Mix star Jade.
And the festival’s final night was headlined by Florence + The Machine, who performed after Chase & Status, Irish group kneecap and lyricist Loyle Carner. A surprise appearance from British singer Lola Young also sent supporters wild.
