In a year when Glastonbury has been criticised for abandoning its musical roots, it will console the purists that at least one thing has stayed the same: the festivalgoers' penchant for excess.

As thousands of revellers descended on the field site in Somerset yesterday, many had come laden with amounts of alcohol that were prodigious even by rock star standards.

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Some of the first festival revellers smile as they arrive at the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm, Pilton with gates opening today for the first day of the festival

One young music fan was seen proudly guarding a teetering tower of 240 cans of beer, while others had to use a Zimmer frame as a trolley to carry their crates of cider.

The clientele also appeared to have moved upmarket from previous years, with many displaying a clean-cut look far removed from the festival's edgier stereotype.

The three-day event, which begins today, will be headlined by U.S. rapper Jay-Z, a departure from Glastonbury's rock origins that has not gone down well with many of the festival's diehards.

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The first people to arrive get their tents pitched in the winds ready to settle in for the weekend

This year, for the first time in 15 years, the event is not sold out and yesterday some 3,000 tickets remained on sale.

However, the 175,000 who are expected to attend will no doubt be heartened to know that though some rain is forecast, it is not predicted to be anything like as severe as last year's wash-out, which saw much of the site turned into a muddy bog.

The essentials: A stack of beer towers over a loo roll, a football and camping gear

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A trolley good idea...Rachel Treliving, left, and Beth Kaye, right, laugh as they arrive at Worthy Farm, Pilton

Forecasters are predicting that it will be the driest in five years...although of course it will still rain on Friday.

Final preparations were still underway this afternoon, with entertainment starting on Thursday and main acts set to hit the stages on Friday.

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Gates opened today for the first day of the festival at which 175,000 are expected to attend over the three main days

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Fed up with the tent already...Two revellers take some time out for light refreshment

Music lovers can look forward to headlining performances from American rockers Kings of Leon, rapper Jay-Z and Britpop veterans The Verve.

Roughly 20 per cent of ticket holders are expected to arrive on Wednesday, but up to 80 per cent usually arrive on Thursday.

Festival founder Michael Eavis CBE said there was 'a lot at stake' this year.

He has come under massive criticism for signing rapper Jay-Z to headline at the festival, with regulars claiming that it is no place for rap music.

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Festival goers used anything they could to get the beer to the tent and this wheelbarrow did just the job

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Er, which one was mine? As the revellers arrive in their thousands, you can see how you could lose your tent

But Mr Eavis has defended his decision, saying it was boring to stick with rock bands.

He said it was important to make changes from time to time but admitted they had 'stuck their necks out on this one'.

He added: 'We're changing the style of the event all the time. We're improving it and looking for the next best thing all the time.'

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Intent on enjoying the music: Graduates pitch up at the Somerset farm site

The 72-year-old added: 'We're at the top of our game, or we have been. So we're sitting targets for criticism.

'It's quite natural that we should get a kicking and for some reasons we probably needed it. I'm proving this year that we're going to bounce back and it's going to be a vintage Glastonbury year.'

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The biggest beer tower in town: Two fans prepare for the big party