We're in-tent on having a ball

RAIN may have threatened to mar the proceedings but T in the Park roared into life without a hitch yesterday as 80,000 people descended on the music festival near Kinross.

Despite persistent showers in the run-up to the three-day festival, there was no repeat of last year's traffic chaos when torrential rain turned the site car parks into a quagmire, and heightened security checks after the Glasgow Airport terror attacks caused massive tailbacks.

The gates opened at 5pm yesterday and the crowds streamed on to the site from the multi-coloured tent city that had been expanding since Thursday.

Within the hour, the main stages were a riot of colour and flags as fans danced and sang along to Newton Faulkner and the Wombats.

Others found spaces in front of the stage in anticipation of headlining acts the Verve and Chemical Brothers.

Big names due to perform include REM, Rage Against the Machine, and the Fratellis. Despite health scares, soul singer Amy Winehouse is expected to fulfil her T in the Park commitment, having dropped out just before she was due to perform last year.

By the middle of yesterday evening, the site looked and felt as if the festival had been going for days rather than hours, as the fairground rides started up, queues at toilets and bars grew, and music blared from every direction.

The sun showed itself long enough to dry out the ground and let people stretch and relax in front of the stage. Showers yesterday and on Thursday had dotted the site with muddy puddles, but fans had decided that they were not going to let the weather have a say in how they dressed.

The majority were in T-shirts and shorts and wearing sunglasses and hats, although many sported multi-coloured wellies as a concession to the rain.

Michael Booth, 19, from Hull, and his friend Duncan Steel, 17, from Aberdeen, were at their second T in the Park.

"It's just the best festival," said Michael, sitting in his socks with his wellies next to him.

"It's the atmosphere, you can't beat it. I've been to Rock Ness in the past and even though it was good, it just doesn't match this for sheer fun. Nobody's looking for trouble, you can chat to anyone, it's great."

His friend agreed: "When we came down last year, we were stuck in a nine-hour traffic jam, but we weren't deterred this year. Mind you, the campsite's pretty muddy, but that's not a problem. I think the atmosphere's great."

Toni Carvill, 22, from Glasgow, said as he waited for KT Tunstall in front of the main stage: "It's just the best weekend of the year, and that's why we've come back. People are really making an effort. We don't care about the weather, it's just a great place to come and enjoy yourself."

Although the weather is expected to remain changeable throughout the weekend, forecasters predicted that tomorrow would be the best day after heavy showers today.

Geoff Ellis, the festival director, said: "It's fantastic to see that so many music fans arriving early are as excited about another year of T in the Park as we are.

"The site is looking great, which has been helped by the dry weather we have had over the last couple of days, and we are just putting together the final touches."

Last night, 110 people had presented themselves to the first-aid tent, mainly for slip and trip injuries, but no one had to go to hospital. Tayside Police had made two arrests since the campsite opened on Thursday, one for theft and one for disorderly behaviour.