Charities make loss from Glastonbury

30/06/08

Charities hoping to make the most of profits from Glastonbury may be left empty handed after tickets for the event failed to sell out in advance.

Tickets for the festival usually sell out within hours of going on sale, but previously bad weather and the unusual choice of headliner - Jay-Z - are being blamed for this year's lack of interest.

A number of charities including Greenpeace, Oxfam and WaterAid, were hoping to receive a £2 million slice of the profits.

Organiser of the event, Michael Eavis, told the BBC: "The charity money will have to be reduced, I think. We've got £1 million going to charity already, but it's the second million that's the problem if we don't sell out."

Mr Eavis said that charity profits would also be affected by rising fuel costs to power tractors and generators.

The day before Glastonbury opened there were still 3,000 unsold tickets and organisers for the event were offering additional £50 Sunday-only tickets to try and encourage interest.

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