Morning:
8°c
Glastonbury crowds braced for more rain
Patrick Whyte, at Glastonbury26 Jun 2009
Revellers braced for more festival rain
Glastonbury revellers were bracing themselves for more torrential thunderstorms this morning after the threatened deluge struck last night.
The rain arrived at 7pm yesterday evening in short, heavy bursts that failed to stop revellers enjoying the event's first day of music.
But the downpour came in earnest after 8pm, with lightning, thunder and sheets of rain sparking fears that the 900-acre Somerset site could become a mudbath.
Campers donned wellies, ducked for cover and consoled themselves with forecasts of better weather from tomorrow afternoon.
Festival goer David Harris, 27, a website producer from Oxford said last night: "The weather has been sunny and rainy on and off throughout the early evening. So we've got used to it and are just concentrating on enjoying the bands.
"People are coming out when the sun does and taking cover when it gets wet.
"The rain certainly hasn't stopped us enjoying ourselves even though it was torrential rain with thunder and lightning for about half and hour this evening."
"No one seems worried about the weather to come. We're going to listen to some music, put on our wellies, and have as much fun as possible."
A bigger challenge for many arriving was finding a spare patch of field to pitch a tent, he added.
The skies could be clear by the time headliners Lily Allen and Neil Young take to the stage today, according to forecaster Meteogroup.
But this morning is still likely to be plagued by further heavy showers.
The brighter weather from later this afternoon is set to last - an improvement on first predictions - although showers remain a possibility.
Controversial popster Allen, Ska pioneers The Specials and rock legend Neil Young head up the bill on the Pyramid Stage today.
Dance diva Lady GaGa, who famously appeared on Jonathan Ross' show with a large tea cup, will grace on the Other Stage.
Bruce Springsteen - The Boss - and urban MC Dizzee Rascal provide a diverse display of talents on Saturday.
Pete Doherty - one time lover of Kate Moss - plays the Other Stage.
Gallery: Bad weather hits Glastonbury
The 30-year-old was recently charged with drink driving and dangerous driving but the terms of his £50,000 bail allow him to play gigs.
On Sunday dark rockers Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds will play before reformed Britpop stars Blur close the festival.
Weatherwoman Laura Gilchrist said: "The risk will be there (this morning) as well, but it looks like improving tomorrow, as that risk moves northward.
"There's a risk of isolated showers at any point but that risk is very very much less. Suncream won't be wasted."
Temperatures could reach 23 degrees centigrade, she added.
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.
The mixed weather was offset by encouraging figures on crime at the event, for which all 137,000 tickets have been sold.
Avon and Somerset police said 54 people were arrested in the first 36 hours of the festival - an improved strike rate on last year.
Most of the arrests were for drug possession and a handful for theft.
The rate of tent thefts in particular has already "decreased significantly", officers said. This time last year 115 had been reported compared to just 48 today.
Earlier in the day police stopped and searched a van on route onto the Glastonbury Site. Seven people were discovered in the back of the vehicle and two arrested for drugs offences.
Sgt Kerry Williams said: "In the last 36 hours we have arrested more people than in previous years and this proves to be a great result. Working in conjunction with festival security we have managed to detect more crime."
The force said its Neighbourhood Watch scheme, operating at the event for the first time, was helping to keep people safe.
The project aims to encourage festival goers in neighbouring tents to befriend and look out for each other. Crime prevention texts are also being sent to registered users.
Last year's festival saw 751 offences reported, of which 177 were drug related. There were 199 arrests.
