Eavis: 'Glasto ticket scheme a success'

Michael Eavis has hailed the success of the ticket deposit scheme that was launched for this year's Glastonbury festival.

Under the terms of the initiative, fans could pay £50 to reserve a ticket from October 4 last year and settle the balance at any time before February 1.

The festival's founder told Billboard that only a small percentage of those who paid a deposit failed to complete their purchase, with those fans receiving a refund less £10 administration costs.

Eavis said: "It's been a huge success. The deposit makes it easier because the price is £175 and that's a lot of money to find all at once.

"We did figure out that during the Christmas period, parents and grandparents can pay the balance for them. That's what happened funnily enough. We sold thousands of tickets just before Christmas.

"Once people commit, then they know they have got a ticket. So they haven't got to worry, they commit to us first so we're home and dry."

He added that the scheme would definitely return for next year's festival.

Tickets are sold out for this year's event, which will be headlined by Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen and Blur.