THOUSANDS of people descended upon Wickham for its annual music and arts festival.

This year's four-day Wickham Festival began on Thursday, August 3, amid heavy rainfall resulting in some campers having to be towed onto the site.

Although the ground of the folk festival became a thick layer of mud, it did not stop people from putting on their wellies or, in some cases, braving the sludge barefoot.

LIVE coverage: Live updates from Wickham Festival as thousands brave the mud

As some festival-goers drag themselves through the mud, others party at the barrier of the stage.

Photographer Stuart Martin has captured some of the moments this year.

Scroll through out gallery at the top of this story.