Rapper 'stole show' at Glastonbury
Glastonbury sold out, an under-fire hip hop artist Jay-Z "stole the show", and the festival has been one of the best in the last decade, one of the main organisers said.
Director Melvyn Benn said all 135,000 tickets were sold, and he believed people who stayed away because of fears over the weather or the line-up of artists this year were now bitterly regretting their decision.
Mr Benn told PA that the registration scheme set up to beat ticket touts would have to be reviewed, but he believed it was essential to retain a photo ID system.
"I was never in doubt that we would sell all the tickets, although it was slower than I thought, possibly because of the registration scheme.
"We will have to review the registration process, but photo ticketing is definitely the right thing to do."
Mr Benn said he believed it was the best Glastonbury Festival for at least 10 years, although he admitted that sunny weather had helped.
"There has been a greater unity of purpose among those who came to the festival this year."
Mr Benn said he did not believe the crowd was especially younger, despite the belief that artists like Jay-Z and Amy Whitehouse would attract more youngsters.
Mr Benn said Jay-Z proved all the doubters wrong - including himself - adding: "Perhaps I was one of those who had doubts and I was concerned it would not work out, but he proved he is not just another pop star."
Mr Benn said the only blemish of the weekend so far had been an increase in theft of goods from tents. He said the average theft was still lower than other festivals but admitted at the increase was "disappointing".
