New ideas on ticket distribution are being considered

Festival organiser Michael Eavis is considering setting up a register of all ticket holders and giving priority in 2004 to people not on the database.

The idea has been criticised as impractical and unfair by festival-goers contacted by BBC News Online.

Festival organisers said on Friday they were still trying to finalise a new system for the distribution of tickets for future festivals after this year's record sell-out.

They said there would be no announcement of these plans until at least a month after this year's event, which begins on June 27.

Rebecca Broscombe-Adams, a mother-of-two, described the priority idea as "outrageous".

A system proving the person who bought the ticket was the person who turned up at the gate, via barcodes and scanners for example, could be an option Mike Peterson

"The festival should be open to everyone. If people make the effort to get the tickets, why should they be denied?" she said.

Although she agreed that a certain proportion of the tickets could be reserved for new festival-goers, Ms Broscombe-Adams was adamant regulars should not be penalised.

"If we could prove we were not touts - by handing in this year's stubs for example - we should be let in next year."

Neil Greenway, 38, a Glastonbury regular since 1986 and owner of the eFestivals website, said: "Who would want to deliberately exclude themselves from next year's event?"

"If people had a unique ticket barcode no one would buy from touts."

Barcodes and scanners

Semi-retired Mike Peterson, 53, agreed that new systems should be considered.

"A system proving the person who bought the ticket was the person who then turned up at the gate, via barcodes and scanners for example, could be an option.

"This would involve more technology - which would have to be paid for - and some people may be unhappy at having to show identification to prove they bought the tickets."

The 2003 festival sold out in 24 hours and tickets, originally costing �105 each, were being offered on the internet for up to �1,000 a pair.