A POPULAR craft and vintage fair will operate a park and ride scheme when it returns to Brockholes Nature Reserve next year, after sparking safety concerns.

Last week's event was so popular that it caused huge delays, with queuing traffic backing up onto the M6.

Thousands of families descended on the nature reserve with the car park rapidly reaching capacity on all three days, leaving many motorists unable to access the site and having to be turned away by stewards or face a lengthy wait.

One visitor, Mathew Ousby, from Beardwood said: "I'd heard about the mobile pizza oven so thought iId call in for a slice on Sunday.

"I was stopped at the gates and told it was full. I hope it's all sorted in time for next year."

Another, Aisling Duckworth, from Whalley said: "As the weather was so lovely I decided to walk along the river banks to avoid the traffic.

"I'd advise more people to do the same next year and enjoy the beautiful Lancashire countryside."

Event Director, Dan Johnson said: "We anticipated that The Crafty Vintage Christmas Markets would be busy and as well as opening for an extra day we also extended the opening hours.

"However, due to the excellent line up of live music, magic, cocktails and vast array of hand made goods and vintage collectables on offer, many people decided to stay and make a day of it."

Sarah Leach, events and communications manager from Brockholes, said: "It was amazing to hear of people travelling from as far away as Scotland and Wales to come and enjoy the nature reserve.

"Crafty Vintage is the biggest event we hold here and and the income generated really helps us to carry out our wildlife conservation work.

"We can't wait for Crafty Vintage to return in 2015 with their exciting plans for enabling even more visitors to enjoy Brockholes."

The event has grown in success year-on-year since its inception three years ago.

Speaking before this year's event, founder Laura Johnson said: “Our fair here at Brockholes Nature Reserve has grown so much in the last three years, our aim is to ensure that there is something for everyone to enjoy and be entertained.”

To keep up with rising demand, as well as encouraging people to arrive earlier next year, bosses at Crafty Vintage hope to make more use of the Guild Wheel cycle route and are currently in negotiations with several local sponsors to a provide a fleet of vintage buses from Preston, Blackburn and Lancaster to ferry people to and from the festival.