Glastonbury sells all 137,500 tickets for June 2011 festival in just four hours

It’s a long, familiar process for thousands across Britain. Left hand on phone. Engaged tone. Redial. Right hand on laptop. Refresh browser. Repeat.

And yesterday’s attempts proved fruitless for many because tickets for next year’s Glastonbury festival sold out in just over four hours – eight hours quicker than last year.

The website and phone lines for the event, which takes place in June 2011, were inundated by thousands, forcing organisers to apologise to those who missed out.

“Thanks for all your continual support. We’re looking forward to seeing those of you who got tickets for next June,” said Michael and Emily Eavis.

Emily added: “Sorry those of you who waited on the lines but couldn’t get tickets. Wish there was a way to fit everyone in.”

Fans were able to reserve up to eight tickets at a time for the largest greenfield music and performing arts festival in the world.

They had to pay a £50 deposit, with the balance to be settled when the booking site reopens next April. But they needed to have registered on the site before yesterday.

Passes for next year’s festival, which starts on 22 June, cost £195 – a £10 increase on last year’s price. The event has 137,500 public tickets and a site capacity of 177,500.

Its 40th anniversary this year boasted a glittering line-up, including Stevie Wonder and Kylie Minogue. Michael Eavis made a stage appearance on the final night.

Overcrowding fears were raised afterwards by Mendip district council in its annual festival report. It said: “Subjectively the site felt extremely busy”. However, it added that the festival was an “unqualified success”, and that all recommendations were about building on good practice.

Glastonbury Festival organisers were unavailable for comment on the council’s report.

Source: Guardian.co.uk