A review published this morning into last summer’s controversial CLA Game Fair has backed the event’s return to the county while admitting the traffic chaos it caused was “unacceptable”.

Motorists across Oxfordshire were brought to a standstill on the first day of the event held in Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, last July.

The review, carried out by the Safety Advisory Group for West Oxfordshire, has apologised for the problems people experienced.

However, its review points to the £13.2m in additional revenue to the county’s coffers brought in by the Game Fair.

Bill Oddy, chairman of the SAG, said: “Events such as the CLA Game Fair need to consider the impact they have on local communities.

“This review concludes that the impact of traffic attending the event on the first day was unacceptable.

“The Country Land and Business Association (CLA), Blenheim Palace and the responsible public authorities apologise for the disruption caused.

“The CLA Game Fair is a national ‘showcase’ event and if organisations and interested parties work together with local communities, there is no reason why the event should not return to Oxfordshire in the future.”