COUNCIL bosses have promised "new processes" have been put in place after football fans were locked in a car park for more than an hour. 

Essex County Council has refused to say if football fans would have been freed from a car park had a supporter not broken a lock which penned hundreds of people.

About 200 Colchester United supporters were left stranded in the park and ride earlier this month after the U’s drew 2-2 against Reading in the Carabao Cup.

Colchester United progressed to the next round via a penalty shoot-out, with most fans leaving the JobServe Community stadium at about 10pm.

Frustrated – supporters resorted to breaking open the gate so they could get out of the park and rideFrustrated – supporters resorted to breaking open the gate so they could get out of the park and ride (Image: Public)

But supporters who made the 15-minute walk back to the park and ride after the match found the entry and exit gate had been locked long before the advertised time of 10.30pm.

It has not been established how the 200-or-so fans got out of the car park, but witnesses have told the Gazette a padlock was broken open shortly after 11pm.

A spokesman for Essex County Council later apologised for the incident and said it would be “inappropriate” to comment further until an investigation into what happened had concluded.

After the Gazette contacted County Hall for a second time to confirm whether a member of staff would have been sent out to unlock the gate for supporters, a spokesman refused to address the issue.

The Gazette also asked when the car park had been locked and whether the authority had an on-call service for like incidents.

He said: “The Colchester Park and Ride site was due to remain open until 10.30pm on Tuesday, August 13, however, due to a breakdown in communication the site was locked earlier.

“We apologise for any upset or distress caused to customers parked at the site.

“New processes have now been implemented to prevent this happening again.”

Unclear – Essex County Council has not clarified whether fans would have been let out of the park and ride had the gate not been broken openUnclear – Essex County Council has not clarified whether fans would have been let out of the park and ride had the gate not been broken open (Image: Public)

One fan, 66-year-old Stephen Collis, said a shout went up from the crowd after the gate was unlocked.

He said: “A massive cheer went up and I thought someone had unlocked the gate.

“But when I got to the gate I didn’t think anyone unlocked it. I think they broke it.

“I don’t know what would have happened if they hadn’t done that.”