Glastonbury set to get under way

Wellington boots are in demand due to rain forecasts

The largest-ever Glastonbury music festival is due to get fully under way with the usual mix of rain, eclectic music and mass revelling expected.

There will be 177,500 music lovers descending on Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, to see acts like The Who, Arctic Monkeys and The Killers.

Forecasters have suggested showers will again ensure the traditional Glastonbury mud features amid the fun.

Wellington boots are apparently selling for £80 outside the site.

Bleak forecast

BBC weatherman Richard Angwin said: "I am sorry to say that my forecasts earlier in the week look like being quite accurate.

"It really doesn't look very promising for the duration of Glastonbury 2007."

A mixture of showers and sunshine are expected for the festival which has, in previous years, become something of a quagmire when hit by prolonged bouts of rain.

The festival, returning after a break last year, has attracted record numbers of early arrivals before it officially opens.

London-based singer-songwriter Beans on Toast opened proceedings on the Left Field stage on Thursday.

'Anticipation levels'

Emily Eavis, daughter of the festival organiser Michael Eavis, praised the early arrivals.

She said: "It's going really well, really well. We had 80,000 people in yesterday [Thursday].

"I mean, like this time in the last festival - July 2005 - there were 40,000 people in on Wednesday and this year there were 80,000".

She saw this as "a sign of the anticipation, the anticipation levels and especially as it's been raining all week over the country."

Asked about the dire weather predictions, she said: "I believe it's not going to be that muddy at all.

"There will be showers but there's not going to be a downpour. Quagmire! There won't be quagmire!"