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Festival-goers are arriving in their thousands at Glastonbury today, after the gates officially opened for the five-day music festival.
This year's event will see Metallica, Kasabian and Arcade Fire headlining the world-famous musical extravaganza, with other major acts on the bill including The Black Keys, Massive Attack and Pixies.
Campers are expected to arrive throughout the day, in a bid to nab the best spot on the Somerset farm.
But it’s a case of making hay while the sun shines – because heavy showers are expected over the weekend and revellers are being advised to bring their wellies and waterproofs.
John Griffiths, a forecaster with Meteogroup, said: “If it was just a few showers the hard ground would make it drain off. But after three days’ worth of rain it will probably get quite muddy, I suspect.”
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014Show all 65 1 /65In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A woman kicks water in a puddle at the Glastonbury Festival
Getty Images
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Fans enjoy the music as US singer Dolly Parton performs on the Pyramid Stage, on the final day of the Glastonbury Festival of Music and Performing Arts on Worthy Farm in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 People gather below the Glastonbury sign at Worthy Farm in Pilton on the eve of the first day of the 2014 Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Performers in the Theatre Field at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 People gather at Arcadia at Worthy Farm in Pilton during the 2014 Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Storms gather above the farm
Leon Neal/AFP/Getty
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 ...while some take shelter
Reuters
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 The crowd enjoy a spell of sunshine
Getty Images
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A wheelbarrow filled with rubbish sits near the Pyramid stage
Reuters
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A man pulls his child in a trailer
Reuters
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A man dressed in an orange suit watches Robert Plant on the Pyramid stage
Reuters
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Festivalgoers watch a laser show and pyrotechnics
Reuters
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Revellers take part in a 'random karaoke' in the 'Shangri-La' area
Getty Images
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Children wearing ear defenders on 27 June 2014
Reuters
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 The sun sets at Glastonbury Festival on 27 June 2014.
AFP/Getty Images
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Lightning in the sky over the Pyramid Stage shortly before it had to be powered down for safety reasons
PA
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Festival goers jump in mud at Worthy Farm during the 2014 Glastonbury Festival on June 27
Getty Images Europe
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Flags flying high in the crowd at The Other Stage during a rare burst of sunshine
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In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 As is tradition the heavens opened as a heavy rain storm hit the festival
SWNS
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 The crowd enjoys the atmosphere during day 1 of the Glastonbury Festival
Getty Images
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Festival goers watch Blondie performing on the Other Stage, at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset
Matt Crossick
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 The crowd watching the Kaiser Chiefs on the Other Stage, at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Festival goers shelter from the rain at the Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Women during a rain shower at the Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A woman walks during a rain shower at the Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A group of festival goers sit in a nest as revellers gather ahead of this weekends Glastonbury Festival of Music and Performing Arts on Worthy Farm near Pilton in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Festival goers enjoy the sun ahead of predicted rain as revellers gather ahead of this weekends Glastonbury Festival of Music and Performing Arts on Worthy Farm near Pilton in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Bluebell, aged 14 months from Norfolk, looks around as her mother takes part in an open-air yoga session in the Green Fields, as revellers gather ahead of this weekends Glastonbury Festival of Music and Performing Arts on Worthy Farm near Pilton in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A child stands beside plastic cow provided by a mobile telecoms company enabling free wifi for festival goers as revellers gather ahead of this weekends Glastonbury Festival of Music and Performing Arts on Worthy Farm near Pilton in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A sculpture by Banksy, entitled 'The Sirens of the Lambs', depicting a truck full of shrieking cuddly animals being driven to slaughter, drives around the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A group of blacksmiths make tools on-site as revellers gather ahead of this weekends Glastonbury Festival of Music and Performing Arts on Worthy Farm near Pilton in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A festival goer uses a hula hoop, as revelers gather ahead of this weekends Glastonbury Festival of Music and Performing Arts on Worthy Farm in Somerset
Getty Images
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A man blows a bubble as the gates open at the Glastonbury Festival of Music and Performing Arts in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 People gather to watch the sun set at Worthy Farm in Pilton on the first day of the 2014 Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 The sun begins to set over the Tipi field, ahead of this weekends Glastonbury Festival of Music and Performing Arts on Worthy Farm in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A couple takes a photo while people gather to watch the sun set at Worthy Farm in Pilton on the first day of the 2014 Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A general atmosphere during the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A man in a glowing suit walks among festival goers, as revelers gather ahead of this weekends Glastonbury Festival of Music and Performing Arts on Worthy Farm in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A man in a spacesuit jumps from one of the standing stones in the stone circle, as revelers gather ahead of this weekends Glastonbury Festival of Music and Performing Arts on Worthy Farm in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A girl uses a glowing hula hoop, as revellers gather ahead of this weekends Glastonbury Festival of Music and Performing Arts on Worthy Farm in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 An Airstream caravan that has been parked at the Pop-Up Hotel, which offers festival goers alternative luxury camping close to the Glastonbury Festival site - offering a array of facilities such as a reception and waiting area, 200-seat restaurant and bar, luxury showers, make-up areas, hairdresser and on on-site spa - is seen on the first day of the 2014 Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Festival goers enjoy the fine weather as the gates open at the Glastonbury Festival of Music and Performing Arts in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 People sit in the sunshine as the Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 People enjoy the fine weather as the gates open at the Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 People enjoythe hot weather at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset
PA
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A woman relaxes in a hammock during the hot weather at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A view of the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A festival goer erects a tipi at Worthy Farm in Somerset during the first day of the Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 A woman adorns her tent with flags from different nations to celebrate the World Cup, at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Festival goers arrive with their tents and drink supplies as the gates open at the Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Festival goers arrive at Worthy Farm in Pilton for the first day of the 2014 Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Festival goers arrive at Worthy Farm in Pilton for the first day of the 2014 Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Stewards open the gates to ticket holders at Worthy Farm in Pilton on the first day of the 2014 Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Dancers at Arcadia rehearse at Worthy Farm in Pilton on the eve of the first day of the 2014 Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 The sun shines through the Ribbon Tower in The Park at Worthy Farm in Pilton on the eve of the first day of the 2014 Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 People arrive for the Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Festival goers help unload a charter coach as they arrive at Worthy Farm in Pilton for the first day of the 2014 Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Bryan Patterson (28) from Liverpool queues to get into Worthy Farm in Pilton for the first day of the 2014 Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Gates opened at the Somerset dairy farm that plays host to one of the largest music festivals in the world
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Two women share a kiss below the Ribbon Tower in The Park at Worthy Farm in Pilton on the eve of the first day of the 2014 Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Festival goers arrive for the Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Festival goers (L to R) Liz, Lauren and Hannah, all from London, relax upon arriving for the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 People walk through the site at Worthy Farm in Pilton on the eve of the first day of the 2014 Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Festival goers board trains at Paddington station to travel to Castle Cary station for the first day of the 2014 Glastonbury Festival
In pictures: Glastonbury 2014 Glastonbury 2014 Festival goers board trains at Paddington station to travel to Castle Cary station for the first day of the 2014 Glastonbury Festival
Car parks were opened from 9pm yesterday to allow festival-goers to arrive throughout the night when traffic volumes were low, but they were not allowed to leave their cars. The gates were being opened from 8am today ahead of the main acts beginning on Friday.
Tickets for this year's Glastonbury Festival sold out in the record time of one hour and 27 minutes. Around 120,000 went on sale, with more than one million people registering for the event, seen as the mother of all festivals.
Once all the performers, workers and volunteers are included, it brings the total number of people on site to around 175,000.
The addition of Metallica as one of this year's headliners has divided opinion, with many saying their heavy metal sound does not fit the “hippy” vibe of the festival.
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Sign up But farmer Michael Eavis , who organised the first event in 1970, said he believes the American four-piece deserve their spot as no other band has ever been as “keen” to play.
Metallica's Glastonbury Festival set time clashes with Mogwai and MGMT (Reuters) Music fans will experience improvements to this year's festival site, including a bespoke 4G network and app with features such as live streams of BBC coverage, both powered by festival technology partner EE.
The festival was granted a new 10-year licence, allowing for a capacity of up to 135,000 public tickets, by Mendip District Council in March, securing its future.
Additional reporting by Press Association
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