Glastonbury Festival tickets have started to appear on auction website eBay despite claims by organisers that re-sales of the passes had been foiled.
This year festival founder Michael Eavis introduced a registration system so the photo and details of the ticket holder would be printed on the ticket.
But he said the quality of some of the photo tickets had "disappointed" him.
However, he insisted each ticket would be closely scrutinised and anyone with the wrong details would not be let in.
"They're taking a huge risk buying those tickets," he told the BBC News website.
Mr Eavis, who back in April claimed the registration process had been a "success", is adamant people who have bought tickets unofficially will not get in.
'We can check names'
"I'm moving heaven and earth to stop it happening. I have people watching eBay so we will have their information," he said.
|
The picture really could be anyone - all you can see is that I am white and have dark hair
| Enquiry cabins will be placed at each of the seven gates to the festival site at Pilton, Somerset. If there is any doubt over over a ticket-holder's identity, the person will be taken to a cabin for further investigation.
"When they come to the gate we can check the names of the people who have been advertising them so we know who they actually belong to," he said.
Ticket prices on eBay currently range from about £155 to £350.
One seller is offering to supply ID so it matches the address on the ticket.
"The picture is hardly any resemblance to me [sic] and really could be anyone," she said.
"All you can see is that I am white and have dark hair. Within the pic my head is about the size of my pinky fingernail," she added.
Mr Eavis said he was "disappointed" with some of the tickets | A spokeswoman for eBay said: "Concert and festival tickets are generally allowed to be sold on eBay.
"However, we make it clear on our site to both buyers and sellers that some event tickets may have terms printed on them which may limit the ability of the original buyer to sell them to other people.
"Anyone buying or selling Glastonbury tickets should be aware that tickets now feature a photograph of the original buyer."
'First year of technology'
Although a handful of tickets are on eBay, Mr Eavis is determined to continue to stop ticket touts and re-selling.
"This is the first year of the technology and so it's a trial run for this year. In the long term the photography will improve," he said.
"I must say I'm slightly disappointed with the quality of the tickets myself."
But he added: "I've only seen 15 out of 140,000 so far that I'm unhappy with which is not bad."
The initial allocation of 137,500 tickets were snapped up just one hour and 45 minutes after going on sale in April.
The Arctic Monkeys, The Killers and The Who will headline the event, which runs from 22-24 June. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6753241.stm
Bottom line is don't take the risk of buying a ticket from Ebay. You'll probably not get in and you'll be stuck trying to get away from Pilton while everyone with legit tickets walks past you. |