Revellers refused to allow rain showers and thick mud dampen their spirits today as the Glastonbury Festival kicked off under dark grey clouds.
Record numbers of fans had made the pilgrimage to Pilton, despite the gloomy predictions.
Most came well prepared, with Wellington boots and anoraks the must have accessories on the 900-acre site, which was already turning into a liquid brown mud bath.
But most of the 180,000 people - decked out almost entirely in rain macs - seemed determined to enjoy themselves at the most eagerly anticipated music event of the year.
Large crowds flocked to the Pyramid Stage to see the first acts of the day oblivious to the torrential rain and slippery conditions.
Amy Winehouse and Kasabian are due on the main Pyramid stage, with Lily Allen and The Who playing over the weekend.
The Killers, Bjork, Dame Shirley Bassey and The Chemical Brothers are among the other big names performing at the three-day festival.
