BBQ caused Reading Festival blaze

A huge blaze at the Reading Festival which spread to 19 vehicles in a car park was started accidently with a barbecue, police have revealed.

The alarm was raised at about 1600 BST on Saturday when music fans saw smoke billowing into the air.

The fire was under control within an hour and no-one was injured.

The three-day festival, which began on Friday, attracted 80,000 people. Thames Valley Police recorded 294 offences and made 56 arrests in total.

Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service said the fire spread to the grass and then to each car.

Twelve were totally burned and a number of others had heat damage in the festival's white car park in Mapledurham, a spokeswoman said.

Music fans enjoyed headliners Rage Against the Machine on Friday night with The Killers topping the bill on Saturday.

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