4x4s rescue the stranded at Latitude Festival

As the UK's music festival season continues, 4x4s have increasingly become the safest way to navigate a muddy field - as festival-goers at Latitude found out this weekend.

More than 35,000 people attended the annual music festival which takes place in Henham Park, Suffolk; only to find their vehicles trapped in the mud when attempting to leave.

YourCanterbury.co.uk reports that hundreds of vehicles struggled in the quagmire and had to be towed out onto the main roads.

Some were lucky enough to live close-by and not need a lift, like Pete Hart, owner of a local newsagent in Southwold.

"We only live about a mile and half from the site so it wasn't too bad," said Mr Hart, who is now in his forth year of attendance. "There were a lot of people getting stuck and cars being pushed. There was a 4x4 AA van towing people out of the mud and the queues were pretty abysmal."

Stewards from organisers Festival Republic were forced to put down wood-chippings as a last ditch attempt to get any kind of traction underfoot. Those fortunate enough to have invested in 4x4 hire however were little phased by some mud; while others were not so lucky.

"We saw one yellow camper van move 20 feet in about two hours," explained Mr Hart who added on EDP24.co.uk, that while the mud was a "bit disappointing", it is "what you expect when it rains at a festival."

"There's not a lot you can do," he said.