BBC criticised over Glastonbury 'junket'

A pressure group has criticised the BBC for its coverage of the Glastonbury Festival.

The TaxPayers' Alliance told The Daily Telegraph that the annual music event has become an "annual jamboree for BBC employees".

Chief executive Matthew Elliot said: "It raises very serious questions because it leaves the licence fee payer with the impression that it's an annual BBC junket. All 407 staff can't all be there doing proper work.

"The fact that nobody else even wants this contract suggests people will be very concerned about how licence fee money is being spent."

Around 125 BBC staff are said to work at the event, together with 130 short-term contracted staff and 150 freelancers.

Conservative MP and culture select committee member Philip Davies said: "I can't imagine any other broadcaster sending this many people to cover one festival.

"This demonstrates once again that the BBC is a bloated organisation. It doesn't operate according to the rules that other broadcasters have to follow."

A BBC spokesperson told The Mirror: "You need that number of people to cover an event like this, lasting three of four days.

"We are using 400 staff but that is a crude figure because they are not all there for the whole weekend. Each and every member of staff has a clear role."

However, a source at a rival broadcaster reportedly said: "The problem with the BBC is that there is so much duplication. Everyone works for their particular show and when that's finished they go home. The costs could easily be brought down with better planning."