I don't remember them selling out quite so quickly

Festival spokesman

Organisers have vowed that unlike previous years, the 2002 festival will be able to stop ticketless fans getting into the site.

The last time it was held, in 2000, the festival was attended by 200,000 people - double the licence number.

Organiser and farm-owner Michael Eavis was fined �6,000 for breaching the terms of his licence and has reinforced security to prevent a repeat.

Record time

Last year's event did not go ahead because of safety fears.

A spokesman for the organisers, who are led Mr Eavis, said he thought the festival had sold out in record time.

"It is a bit difficult to tell usually because there are so many outlets but a check was made and by Wednesday it was quite clear that they had all gone," he said.

Obscure agencies

"There is a very strict limit on the number of people, which is part of an agreement with the local council, so there will be no extra people allowed in.

"It is possible there are still some tickets available with some obscure agency somewhere, but it will be 10 rather than 10,000."

He added: "I've been working at the festival for a number of years and I don't remember them selling out quite so quickly."

This January, Mr Eavis was granted a licence by Mendip District Council for a crowd of 140,000, which includes performers and staff.

The spokesman also said that the line-up for the festival would remain a secret for the time being, despite the event selling-out.

Wide spectrum

"The previous policy has been not to announce the bands until near the time of the festival," he said.

"We don't need to encourage people to come to the festival now as it has already sold out, but we also want a wide spectrum of people to come.

"Oasis was the problem a few years ago because people just came for that and it skewered the whole audience."

Various acts have confirmed they will be playing at this year's festival, including Rod Stewart and Rolf Harris.