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Giant Mike Skinner crop circle welcomes Glastonbury revellers
Ben Bailey25 Jun 2009
Chart star Mike Skinner swapped the Streets for the fields as his face was pictured in a gigantic "crop circle" to welcome festival goers to Glastonbury.
The singer decided to make the huge work of art because he wants his face "to be seen from space".
"It's not so much a crop circle as it is an artwork made out of grass," he said.
"We hope to make it about 100m long, my aim was for it to be seen from space. It's the Great Wall of China come to a rock festival in Somerset."
Meanwhile revellers, who are still arriving in their thousands for the start of the festival, are hopeful the threatened showers hold off.
Michael Eavis opened the doors of his 900-acre farm in Pilton, Somerset, yesterday and half of the 137,000 ticket holders have already arrived.
Today reformed boy band East 17, best known as Take That's grittier rivals, will play the Dance Lounge, as will old-school dance duo Altern-8.
The pair will delight those nostalgic for the 90s rave scene - although it is not known if they will be wearing their trademark chemical suits.
The folk-tinged tunes of hotly-tipped Alessi's Ark provide a calmer option, while popular alternative rockers Maximo Park should ignite the crowd.
Forecaster Meteogroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said this morning's weather would be "quite reasonable" with bright sunshine. But as the day wears on the threat of of thunderstorms will grow.
Weatherman Rob Hutchinson said: "The majority of the day is looking quite reasonable with warm sunshine. The problem is later. Clouds will increase throughout the day and there is the small chance of one or two heavy showers or thunderstorms.
"I don't want to go overboard. There is a slim chance."
Friday and Saturday will see a greater risk of storms and downpours in between sunny spells.
Ms Hutchinson added: "There's definitely the risk of heavy downpours at some point. But the chance of Glastonbury becoming a real mud-fest is low, especially with the new drainage system."
In 2005, storms and flash flooding caused havoc at the site, with many festival-goers having to use their tents as makeshift boats to float around waterlogged areas.
In 2007, more rain ensured a similar mudbath, though a new draining system meant a repeat of 2005 was avoided.
Meanwhile Avon and Somerset Police have adopted the motto "love thy neighbour" as they pilot the event's first Neighbourhood Watch scheme.
Visitors will be encouraged to meet and befriend their camping neighbours to build a community "that looks out for one another".
Sergeant Kerry Williams said: "Last year the main crime recorded at Glastonbury Festival was theft from tents so this year we have really focused on tackling that.
"The Neighbourhood Watch Scheme at the event is designed to replicate a neighbourhood watch scheme in any other community, where communities take it upon themselves to watch out for anyone or anything suspicious to protect one another from crime."
The main stages kick off on Friday with Lily Allen, The Specials and Neil Young on the Pyramid Stage and Lady GaGa on the Other Stage.
