This is quite astonishing.

The BBC has been accused of sending more than 400 staff on a "junket" to the Glastonbury music festival.

But a spokesman for the corporation defended the staffing levels at the festival.

"Glastonbury is a major British cultural event and the BBC has extensive coverage across TV, radio and online," he said.

"The BBC is the UK's largest musical patron and has a particular role in broadcasting musical performances, often live, and commissioning new music and showcasing new performers. Glastonbury is widely regarded as the UK's most significant popular music event."

A newspaper report suggested the cost to the BBC of covering the event was £1.5 million - but the spokesman refused to comment on the figure. The broadcasts from the festival included Gabby Logan's show on BBC Radio 5 Live - a station known for its focus on news and sport rather than music.

Last week, figures revealed that BBC executives claimed more than £350,000 in expenses in the past five years. The salaries of the BBC's 50 top-earning managers were disclosed - and showed 27 were paid more than Prime Minister Gordon Brown's £195,000 salary.

Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "I think the number of staff sent to Glastonbury does smack of it being more of a junket for BBC staff and presenters rather than a serious exercise.

"There's no way they would need 400 people to record and broadcast an event like Glastonbury."

Meanwhile, almost unbroken sunshine and classic sets from Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young prompted organiser Michael Eavis to say this year's event could never be bettered.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20090629/tuk-bbc-accused-of-glastonbury-junket-6323e80.html