Glastonbury revellers bask in sun

By Tom Bishop
BBC News Online at Glastonbury

There was tight security as fans arrived at the Somerset site

This year's Glastonbury Festival, which attracts 112,000 revellers and 300 music acts, kicked off on Friday, with police reporting a drop in crime.

The music started on Friday and the day's main Pyramid Stage line-up includes Oasis, PJ Harvey and Elbow.

By Friday, 95,000 fans had arrived, with sun beating down after recent rain - but more rain is due on Saturday.

Some 57 crimes have been reported since gates opened on Wednesday, compared with 72 at the same time last year.

I've done most of the other festivals so I wanted to do the big one Bobby Skarratt Fan

A total of 84 people have been thrown out of the festival so far, including two who managed to climb over the tightly-guarded security fence.

As well as music stages, the 900-acre site includes scores of stalls - many open all night - that create a fairground atmosphere, selling everything from vintage clothing to fruit and vegetables to noodles.

Other areas include a healing field, circus big top and children's field.

And a trailer park offering dry accommodation, hot showers and champagne, has seen a surge in demand - despite charging up to £600 per night for a caravan.

One first-time festivalgoer, Bobby Skarratt, 21, from Manchester, told BBC News Online: "I've done most of the other festivals so I wanted to do the big one.

"It's massive - I never realised the size of it," he said, adding it had a "much more relaxed" atmosphere than other similar events.

ASK FESTIVAL SPOKESMAN Festival spokesman Jason Holmes answered your questions. Click here to watch (opens a new window)

His friend Michael O'Boye, also 21, said it seemed "subdued" when he arrived on Wednesday - "but now it's good spirits all round".

"The best bit so far has been watching the sun rise," he said.

"I think people who came here before 2000 might notice some difference in the atmosphere, but it has felt the same every year I have come."

FRIDAY'S HEADLINERS Pyramid stage (above): Oasis, Kings of Leon, PJ Harvey Other stage: Chemical Brothers, Goldfrapp, Franz Ferdinand Dance: Dave Clarke, Kosheen, Fergie New Tent: Spiritualized, The Bees, Mark Gardener Full Glastonbury line-up

Festivalgoers were able to watch England's Euro 2004 defeat to Portugal on Thursday as giant screens showed the match at the Pyramid stage.

Although the resulting atmosphere was downbeat, hundreds of people made their way to the dance stage to lift their spirits.

And the crowds really got into the festival mood once the sun came out on Friday.

Avon and Somerset Police said there had been no robberies and no reports of gangs on site.

"It appears that people have taken our advice and have not brought expensive items with them," said police spokesman Dan Mountain.

FRIDAY'S BBC COVERAGE BBC Two 2335-0200 Glastonbury 2004 BBC Three 1900-2200, 2230-0200 Glastonbury 2004 Radio 1 2300-0300 Fergie, Fabio and Grooverider 6 Music 1900-2000 - The Music Week 2300-0100 - 6 Mix (All times are BST) Watch Glastonbury online

"Our operation is working well and the chance of being a victim of crime at this year's festival is very small," he told BBC News Online.

Ticket touts have been targeted this year, with the local council invoking new powers to have touts prosecuted if found on the outskirts of the event.

"Previously, we could only stop people illegally selling tickets on the road leading to the festival," said Mendip District Council spokesman Grenville Jones.

"We are now able to stop people in a much wider area, and the message seems to have got through."

Sunny weather is expected to continue on Friday and Sunday, with showers predicted for Saturday.