Glastonbury tickets to carry photo ID

LONDON, Feb 1 (Reuters) A new pre-registration system for music fans wanting to go to this year's Glastonbury Festival starts today to ensure that every ticket features a passport-sized photograph of its owner.

''It's a much fairer system,'' said Michael Eavis, who owns the farm in southwest England where the festival has been held since 1970.

''It means unscrupulous people won't be able to sell their tickets on for a profit. I assure you that your details will not be used for any other purpose.'' Those wanting to register must fill in details available on www.glastonburyregistration.co.uk/ and return the form before midnight on February 28.

However, even those who pre-register will still not be guaranteed a ticket, which will cost around 150 pounds.

Glastonbury began on Eavis's land in 1970 and grew from humble beginnings to become one of the biggest annual music and arts events in the world, nowadays attracting top bands and more than 100,000 revellers.

Along the way it has also earned a reputation for being one of Europe's muddiest events: torrential rain and storms caused chaos at the last festival in 2005.

The event was not held in 2006 as Eavis decided to allow his farm time off to recover. Fans had to make do with a documentary film instead.

Headline acts in the past have included Coldplay, Oasis, Paul McCartney and R E M, and media reports have said that this year The Who, The Arctic Monkeys and Bjork will feature.

However organisers insist they will not confirm who is performing until the tickets go on sale on April 1.

The 2007 festival will run from June 22 to 24, providing Eavis gets permission from the local council.

REUTERS AKJ HS1609