CAMP Bestival is offering refunds or a free ticket to next year’s event after this year’s festival ended in a washout.

Organisers had to shut the event early in July over safety fears due to heavy rain and high winds.

As previously reported in the Daily Echo, the festival’s future was thrown into doubt after organisers confirmed they were having “financial challenges.”

In September, billionaire James Benamore made a £1.1million offer to take over the Camp Bestival festival.

Posting a statement on the Camp Bestival website today, Josie and Rob da Bank said: “The last 3 months have been extremely testing and difficult for us with matters out of our hands, we fully appreciate just how frustrating and long this process has been for you all too...and for that we are very sorry.”

They added: “The nature of the last few months means that the insurance money that was available to refund 2018 ticketholders, and money from 2019 ticket sales, was entirely lost in the administration. This is unfair to you, our fans.

"The new owners, LN-Gaiety and SJM, understand how unfair this feels and as a result have agreed to fund discounts and refunds for 2018 ticket holders, and will honour all existing 2019 tickets.”

Festival-goers who bought a ticket for Sunday 2018 are entitled to apply for a free day ticket for Friday, Saturday or Sunday of next year’s event or a face value refund.

VIP Sunday 2018 Day Ticket holders are entitled to a VIP 2019 day ticket to the day of their choice, or a face value refund.

A complimentary day car park ticket will also be included with every order.

People will able to choose which day they want to attend after the 2019 line-up has been announced.

Next year’s festival will go ahead as planned at Lulworth Castle between July 25 and 28.

Anyone who purchased a weekend ticket for 2018 is entitled to a 33 per cent discount on 2019 tickets.

This will be automatically sent as a code via email which can be redeemed up until December 31. The code will be sent to the email address used to purchase your 2018 tickets.

People who bought a ticket in person via Discover Purbeck Tourist Information Centre, should check campbestival.net later this week for details on how to apply for a refund.