Glastonbury Festival organiser Michael Eavis has promised ticket sales for this year's event will be smoother than in 2004, when systems crashed.
Millions of phone calls and internet hits were registered by people trying to buy tickets last year. Mr Eavis said they had "tested and retested" an improved online system and would have more than twice the number of phone operators on duty this time. The 112,000 tickets, priced £133 each, go on sale at 0900 GMT on 3 April.
Mr Eavis, who has been hosting the festival on his Somerset farm since 1970, said he considered "many radical options" for ticket sales - but decided to improve the existing system. "I would be delighted if everyone who wanted to come to the festival could, but that is not possible as the numbers on site are limited. This year's event would be "a festival to remember," he said.
Fans would not be "left in limbo" on the website, not knowing if their transaction had gone through, he pledged. And the telephone exchange should not face the same problems as last year because tickets were going on sale on a Sunday, he added.Last year, around three million calls were logged on the day the tickets went on sale, with some 200 million redials. Many fans complained they could not get through on the website or phone lines, while others bought multiple tickets because they did not realise their internet transactions had been processed.
This year, fans will be issued with personalised photo ID cards for the first time, in an attempt to beat touts. "I really think this is a positive move forward to stop unscrupulous people and companies touting tickets," Mr Eavis said.
Tickets, costing £125 plus £8 booking and postage fees, will only be available from one website, aloud.com, and the phone line 0870 165 2005. Fans were warned not to buy from any other outlet because they were "bogus". Each person will be able to buy two tickets and fans can cancel their purchases and get refunds until 13 May.
This year's performers are rumoured to include Coldplay, The White Stripes and Kylie Minogue. The event will take place from 24-26 June.
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