VIDEO: Heavy rain hits Glastonbury Festival (From Bridgwater Mercury)

VIDEO: Heavy rain hits Glastonbury Festival

12:57pm Thursday 23rd June 2011 in Glastonbury By Rory McKeown

FESTIVALGOERS have endured torrential rain and thick mud as this year’s Glastonbury Festival gets underway.

Thousands of music fans descended onto Worthy Farm yesterday as the 2011 annual spectacular kicked-off.

But heavy rain storms throughout yesterday and this morning have transformed sections of the site into ankle-deep mud pools.

As of 10am this morning (Thursday), there are 93,476 people on the farm – a decrease from last year’s 99,020.

Police have made 36 arrests to date and there have been 27 ambulance calls. 12 people have been taken off site for further treatment.

There is more bad news for festivalites as weather forecasters are predicting further showers throughout the weekend.

The action starts tomorrow as rock titans U2 head the Pyramid Stage following a performance from the extravagant Morrissey – former front man of The Smiths.

There are also performances from blues kingBB Kingrap troupe Wu-Tang Clan, Mumford and Sons and Cee-Lo Green.

Indie heavy-weights Coldplay head the festival on Saturday and pop diva Beyonce closes the event on Sunday.

KEEP checking this website for more photos, videos and updates throughout the weekend.