Apology over show parking chaos

Organisers of the Royal Welsh Show have apologised after hundreds of visitors were left stranded in a car park by a shuttle bus service.

Event official Hadyn Jones said coaches sent to collect visitors parked a few miles from the showground in Llanelwedd, Powys, went the wrong way.

But he said the "glitch" with the park and ride system was sorted out late in the morning of the first day.

The four-day event is expected to attract more than 200,000 visitors.

Paula Roberts, from Wiltshire, who is visiting the show with her sister and four children, estimated about 1,500 people were waiting for buses at a car park called South Free.

"People queuing were so annoyed that they started arguing and squabbling"

Mrs Roberts said she had been queuing for about two hours, adding that some people were so frustrated that they started arguing.

"It's the first time I've been to the show and I don't think I'll be coming back," she said.

"It was frustrating and annoying and no-one at the car park seemed to be in control of the situation.

"People queuing were so annoyed that they started arguing and squabbling."

"The glitch has now been sorted and we're over the worst"

Mr Jones blamed the problem on some buses taking a wrong turning.

He said: "Apparently there has been a backlog, but it has now been cleared.

"We did have a few problems because some of the buses went the wrong way.

"We have a new bus company working for us this year, but I don't know if that has something to do with it.

"The glitch has now been sorted and we're over the worst.

"It's almost inevitable we'll have some problems because we are located in a rural area and rural roads are not the best.

"We're sorry for what has happened."

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Royal Welsh Show
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites