Glastonbury Sell Out Precedes Free Festival Clampdown

Glastonbury Festival organisers sold all 112,000 tickets for this year's event in just 17 hours last week, prompting festival chief Michael Eavis to issue his first warning of the year to ticketless fans, urging them to stay away.

"The tickets will have names and addresses so anyone buying unauthorised tickets is being tricked," he told The Times.

"Without matching identification you won't get in."

Meanwhile cops in the counties surrounding Glastonbury unveiled details of a summer-long joint operation aimed at shutting down outdoor parties, particularly the 'alternative festivals' that in previous years have sprung up outside Glastonbury's perimeter.

"Operation Hartley sends out a clear message that these events will not be allowed," a police spokesman told the BBC, "and anybody who doesn't have a ticket for the Glastonbury Festival should stay away."

Police will have additional powers to break up even tiny parties in the area, following amendments to the notorious Criminal Justice Act this January, which redefines raves as being any outdoor 'repetitive beats' music party with more than 20 guests (including festivities on private land).

"I am very sorry that this event, which has so much to offer, has - on this occasion - caused many of you so much sadness and disappointment. Your support in good times and bad times is much appreciated. Thank you Michael Eavis 2nd April 2004

There will be no further issue of tickets. Duplicate orders have been cancelled and returned to the system and have all now been sold. Any further returned tickets and duplicate orders will be absorbed by outstanding needs. Sorry."
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• glastonbury