In Bramham Park where the festival is now held, one well-prepared young man took the mud in his stride by bringing along a dinghy and was towed around by a friend.

The volume of festival-goers trying to reach Bramham also caused chaos on the A1 and M1, with delays also likely tomorrow as more festival-goers arrive on site.

Highways Agency spokesman Guy Huckle said: ''Drivers should consider using public transport. Additional services have been laid on and this can often be the most convenient, stress-free way to get there.

"If you can't leave your car at home then plan your journey. Drivers can get up-to-the-minute travel information by phoning the Agency's information line on 08457 504030.''

Lewis Jamieson, of Hall or Nothing, said the festival was going well and the conditions at the site were OK.

"Considering the amount of water you have had up here recently it's not that bad. It's not Somme-like or anything approaching Reading in 1992 when you could paddle from one side of the site to another and I watched my tent float away.

"There's always the facility for us to start spreading wood chippings and sand if required particularly if the access paths start to become degraded.

"We do stress the value of the bus drop offs which are working beautifully. We really don't want people driving when they can use them.

"Leeds festival just seems to be becoming better and better - it's the 10th anniversary of the festival and Leeds has now caught up with Reading - they both sold out just as quickly.

"It's incredible and remarkable how popular it has become and the line-ups are second to none. This year we have Metallica, The Killers and Rage Against the Machine as well as local bands including The Pigeon Detectives and The Crib from Wakefield. Rage have never played Leeds before and that's going to be a huge event. Hopefully, the festival will be the best one ever."

And leeds councillor John Procter, leisure portfolio holder, said: "There were some issues concerning the amount of rain there has been, a bit of flooding on the sight but I am looking forward to attending on Sunday."

Showers are predicted again for Friday but there is hope that it will remain fine on Saturday and Sunday.

Traffic tailbacks this morning stretched back past Seacroft roundabout on the Leeds-bound side of the A64, and up the A63 Selby Road to the M1 where commuters were queueing to reach the city centre.

Problems caused by heavy traffic bound for the festival at Bramham Park were made worse by flooding in the area.

Motorists were advised to try to avoid the M1 northbound between junctions 43 (M621 interchange) and 45 (Temple Newsom), where traffic was stationary for two miles.

Narrow lanes were also reported on the A1 northbound between Boston Spa (junction with A659) and Wetherby (junction with B1224).

The A61 had one lane closed between Central Leeds (junction with A64(M) and Leeds (junction with A54) in both directions.