Would-be revellers at this year’s High Definition Festival have slammed organisers for allegedly not refunding tickets they were unable to redeem.

Hundreds of people jumped the perimeter fences at the Forest Farm, Forest Road, Hainault, festival meaning those with legitimate tickets were turned away at the gate.

Organisers said they gave a cut-off date of July 12 for people to claim refunds, a claim refuted by some people who have been left out of pocket.

Fiona Dunlop said: “They say they gave people 11 days to claim a refund, from the date of July 1 when they published an apology on their Facebook page.

“I’ve seen no evidence of that, it’s a disgrace that they can do that for such a disastrous event and during the holiday season.

“I’m absolutely disgusted this is the way they conduct their business.”

As well as the people who jumped the fence, it was later found that 19 fake internet tickets were used along with 900 fake physical tickets.

The festival’s Facebook page is filled with people complaining about the lack of response from their official email address, contact@highdefinitionfestival.co.uk.

Another person with a ticket, James Brown, says he only found out he was not going to be able to get into the site when he saw crowds of people leaving.

He added: “When I originally demanded a refund I don’t remember being given a deadline. They just put a general reply on their Facebook page.

“Effectively, people [the gatecrashers] stole my ticket and got away with it.

“I was astonished that ticketing security and barrier fencing had been so bad.”

Organisers have said security will be stepped up at next year’s festival and will be combined with a 20ft shield around the perimeter fencing, bur Mrs Dunlop says she will not be attending.

The event, on June 30, featured some of the biggest acts in dance music including sets by Miss Dynamite and Labrinth.

Despite several attempts to contact festival organisers, no one was available for comment.