THE Forest is still counting the cost of a weekend music extravaganza at Speech House field which has left a trail of rubbish and damage far and wide.

Widely publicised in Bristol and other centres, the Forest knew little about the Boomtown Fair until it actually happened...and it soon became clear this was not just a little party in the woods.

The Forestry Commiussion was still sending out scouts on Tuesday morning as far as Mile End, where a local field had been commandeered as an overspill car park and had been left in "a disgusting state" according to one resident.

Nearer to Speech House, the Arboretum car park and Spruce Ride were blocked with parked cars for most of the weekend.

"We have been talking with the organisers and our rangers are supervising the clear up," said Forestry Commission spokesman Heather Lilley.

She said if they had known earlier how big the event would be they would have made sure it was supervised more closely.

The organisers arranged their own security for the event but in one onlooker's view it was 'woefully inadequate' and there were 'disgusting sights' as well as the rubbish, while illegal campers were still staying in parts of the Forest, some of them lighting campfires.

Pre-publicity on the Boomtown Fair website states: "BoomTown 09 is to be held in the stunning grounds of a beautiful hotel situated in a large clearing in the middle of the Forest of Dean, one hour north-west of Bristol.

"The site is just outside of a little town called Cinderford."

Among advertised groups giving gigs were 3 Daft Monkeys, ASBO Disco, Chaz 'n' Dave, Demolition Man and Leonard and Bubba's Delicious Googoo Gluster.

The Review has been trying to contact Speech House for comment.