A total of �1m was raised for charity in 2002

By 1300 BST on Monday, some 35,000 tickets were thought to have been sold.

Up to 150,000 people are expected at this year's event, which was initially refused a licence because of concerns about crime and environmental damage.

Organisers, who have confirmed REM and Radiohead will play, promised to improve security on the site and the local area - and the application was approved.

Tickets are available in shops around the UK, by telephone and on the internet.

I don't think people are travelling abroad as much as they were Michael Eavis Festival organiser

Festival organiser Michael Eavis told BBC News Online: "There is always a frantic demand in the first few hours but there are 112,000 tickets to sell in total.

"We were sold out by the end of May last year, but this year is selling quicker.

"I don't think people are travelling abroad as much as they were and they are happier to stay in the UK," he added.

Local causes

The renewed licence application includes plans to appoint a crime reduction team, a village liaison manager and funding of extra police patrols

The Mean Fiddler organisation, which runs the festival, said there would also be one less stage than originally planned and that unauthorised car parks would be targeted.

Avon and Somerset Police statistics showed 1,094 crimes were blamed on the festival last year, compared with 2,431 in 2000 and 2,074 in 1999.

Glastonbury raised �1m for charity last year, with money going to Oxfam, Greenpeace and WaterAid as well as causes in the local area.

The festival runs from Friday 27 to Sunday 29 June, with the gates opening at 0900 BST on Wednesday 25.