It was the hottest ticket in town – and Chelmsford was not prepared for the sheer number of fans who arrived. The Chelmsford City Live festival kicked off for the first time ever on Friday – and Justin Timberlake was the perfect showman. However, crowds queued for over an hour and a half to board the specially designated shuttle buses from a rural racecourse surrounded by fields back to the city’s train station.

With just a few minutes to spare until the time of the final bus at 12.30am, there was still a line of hundreds snaking through the car park – and tensions ran high. Boos rang out as desperate festival-goers tried to jump the queue and were met with forceful resistance from others in the crowd. Security were forced to jump in as around half a dozen people physically clashed and aimed blows at each other, with one ending up on the ground as he was restrained and urged to “calm down”.

We only just managed to board the bus, despite joining the queue straight after the show finished – and one couple told us they expected they’d be camping out in a station overnight after missing their last train.

The bus company seemingly struggled to provide enough buses for everyone who’d purchased tickets, which had cost £14.25 each – including an obligatory Ticketmaster fee – for just a 10-mile journey.

Transport chaos aside, I’d have to rate the gig itself a ten out of ten, with Tennessee-native Justin clearly in high spirits for the July 4 celebrations marking US Independence Day.

First he spotted a glittery-haired nine-year-old in the crowd brandishing a USA flag and gave a shoutout to her.

Moments later, audience members exclaimed “What a nice guy!” as he halted the show in his eagerness to sign a banner belonging to a pregnant woman.

“You’re eight months pregnant and you came all the way out here to see me?” he asked incredulously, before pulling out all the stops to make her feel special.

However, one sign was doubtless more confusing to him as it featured the Essex slang word “reem”.

Justin delivered flawless versions of all his classics, from Senorita to SexyBack, with fans making the racecourse a dancefloor, and pausing only when he slowed down the pace for the occasional tender ballad like End Of Time.

Chelmsford City Live is brand new as a festival and is still finding its feet – but don’t let its teething problems deter you.

All Justin’s songs have added intensity when performed live and his musicians and backing dancers accompany him perfectly.

The only thing I’d do differently next time is plan to share a car or taxi rather than risk the public transport chaos again.