Residents in Oakham, Rutland, have described a 'state of panic' after around 1,500 travellers arrived for a religious festival at the Rutland Showground over the weekend. Reports include alleged looting, drag racing at 80mph, and a food fight at a McDonald's that reduced staff to tears.
Local business owners reported CCTV footage showing people trying doors after hours, and supermarkets closed early due to claims of looting and vandalised toilets. Some residents said they were too scared to leave their homes, criticising what they saw as a lack of police presence.
Police made several arrests on Sunday night. The event, the Festival of Light and Life, is a Pentecostal Gypsy-led Christian gathering. Organisers admitted that 'a lot of non-Christians have attended' and distanced themselves from the disturbances, calling them a minority.
One traveller involved in the event denied widespread chaos, suggesting criticism may be fuelled by anti-traveller sentiment. He invited locals to visit the site for tea and sandwiches, saying 'we are just preaching the gospel.'
Locals questioned why the festival was allowed to go ahead when other events, like the Festival of Food and Farming, were cancelled due to Covid restrictions. The incident follows similar gatherings in Cumbria and Kew Gardens earlier this year.
