Muddy start to Glastonbury

Packed site: The view from BBC Radio 1's web cam at 1300 BST

Wet weather and tight security have greeted the start of the Glastonbury Festival in Somerset - with police using decoy tents to catch thieves.

Torrential rain hit the site during Thursday, but the sun appeared at midday on Friday. Forecasters are not expecting a return to the mudbaths of 1997 and 1998, which turned the 600-acre site at Worthy Farm, Pilton into a quagmire.

By mid-morning many of the thousands of the people on site had mud on their jeans and combat trousers as part of their initiation to the Glastonbury experience.

Police are using decoy tents to trap thieves

BBC News Online entertainment reporter Chris Charles, who is at the festival, said: "It was hammering it down at times on Thursday - like a monsoon.

"It is treacherous in places, but I don't think it'll be like 1998 proportions. The sun is starting to dry the ground out, anyway."

Another, less welcome feature of Glastonbury was also in evidence, with 230 thefts reported to Avon and Somerset police by mid-morning on Friday.

Increased security is in evidence, with the perimeter fences being patrolled by guards on horseback to prevent people getting in without paying.

But many seasoned festival-goers view the patrols with suspicion.

Wristbands: Guards are patrolling the perimeter fence on horseback

Chris Charles said: "It's harder for people to get in by climbing over the fence now, so one group of people went through the fence by knocking it down - and got the biggest cheer of the festival so far."

Police are cracking down on thieves this year by using decoy tents to catch criminals. So far, 72 people have been arrested for offences which have also included robbery, assault, drugs offences and breach of bail.

A separate drugs operation by Gloucestershire police saw officers target festival-goers using the M5 motorway to get to the site.

Out of 57 arrests, 51 were cautioned for being in possession of a controlled substance, and six were taken to Stroud police station for questioning in connection with intent to supply a controlled substance.

Police seized 500 Ecstasy tablets as well as magic mushrooms, amphetamines and cannabis.

Macy Gray is a late addition to the Glastonbury bill

Chief Inspector Mike Barton said: "Just as important, we were surpised by the number of vehicles which needed attention to make them safe on our highways."

The 100,000-capacity event has completely sold out after a late surge in sales, making it the first UK festival to do so.

Farmer Michael Eavis, who founded the festival in 1970, is this year joined by his daughter Emily as co-organiser.

She takes over from her mother, Jean, who died weeks before last year's festival.

It also sees the return of the main pyramid stage, six years after its predecessor burned down.

A temporary structure had been put up each year, but now a permanent, £150,000 pyramid has been installed - four times larger than its predecessor.

Acts to have made an impression on recent festivals include Pulp in 1995, a solo Robbie Williams in 1998, and Travis in 1999.

Friday's highlights include club acts Chemical Brothers, Groove Armada, Moloko and Moby, rock acts Nine Inch Nails and Idlewild, and US singer Macy Gray, a late addition to the bill.