Gates to Glastonbury Festival opened this morning, transforming a Somerset farm into a city of over 200,000 people as revellers prepare for a 33C heatwave. Happy campers, laden with backpacks and crates of beer, queued to enter the site as the first day of performances began.
Festival-goers donned Dr Martens and wellies, trudging through sodden mud underfoot while temperatures were expected to reach up to 30C. One music fan sported a unicorn inflatable rubber ring around her waist, while others wore colourful outfits including tutus, dungarees, and flower crowns.
Despite the muddy conditions, spirits were high. Festival founder Michael Eavis told waiting crowds: 'It has never been better. It has never been as good as this one. The weather looks great – marvellous. Thank you for coming. Welcome to Worthy Farm.'
Met Office experts predicted temperatures could hit record highs for June in southern UK, potentially beating the 1976 record of 35.6C in Southampton. A forecaster said: 'It's possible we could see that beaten this weekend.'
Fatboy Slim, who has played at Glastonbury since 1996, will perform three DJ sets this year. He described the festival as 'a town the size of Colchester, populated by a bunch of lunatics escaping from reality'. The biggest acts will hit the Pyramid stage from Friday.
