Glastonbury 2014: Wi-fi cows to give festival-goers 4G connection

Hank Kruger, who has painted steel bins at the festival since the 1980s, decorated the cows

Life-size fibreglass cows decorated by artist Hank Kruger, modelled on Worthy Farm's famous dairy herd, which have been converted into 4G wifi hotspots to benefit festival goers at this year's Glastonbury. (Nathan Gallagher/PA Wire )

Despite the gloomy weather forecast set to dampen the mood at Glastonbury Festival, revellers will at least be able to enjoy free Wi-fi – thanks to a herd of cows.

Luckily for the animals who live on Worthy Farm, Somerset, when its fields aren’t filled with festival-goers, the Wi-fi cows are made of fibre-glass and are modelled on the famous herd.

The so-called Highspeed Herd was decorated by festival artist Hank Kruger, and have been converted into 4G wifi hotspots - allowing the audience and staff members to use the internet at key points around the 1,200-acre site.

Mr Kruger has been decorating steel drum bins around the festival grounds since the 1980s, with one currently in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame museum in Cleveland, Ohio.

A woman uses Wi-fi at Glastonbury (Nathan Gallagher/PA Wire)

Mr Kruger said: “It's not the first cow I've ever painted but it's certainly the most high-tech. We've loved bringing these 4G beasts to life and I think they look brilliant. My team and I have even named them: Dolly, Daisy and Molly seemed the perfect fit to me.”

Contactless card payment systems, card readers in 25 main bars, and cash on tap facilities for EE customers will also be on offer at the increasingly high-tech festival.

Festival goers will also benefit from contactless payment on site, with more than 100 card readers in 25 main bars, as well as cash on tap facilities for EE customers - allowing them to pay for items up to £20 with a mobile phone.

An official Glastonbury 2014 app, showing the latest news, set times, and live streams of the BBC coverage for those unable to attend is currently available to download.

The advances in no way help to ease accusations that the festival is becoming "too middle-class", including from its latest high-profile detractor Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickenson.