In pictures: Glastonbury Festival day one

Under cloudy skies thousands of people descended on Glastonbury Festival earlier as music lovers spent the day carrying, pushing and pulling a weeks worth of possessions across the green grass and mud tracks of the site.

Festival founder Michael Eavis also put in a rare appearance much to the joy of those entering the site.

Once at their chosen camping grounds it was time to relax and prepare for what's to come.

Smiles all round: festival-goers happily lug their belongings across the farm as they head to where they plan to pitch their tent for the next five nights.

A wheelie great idea: One man turned heads as he brought his festival gear onto the farm in a modified wheelie bin.

A balancing act: People head into the festival with all of their belongings on their back.

Happy campers: All smiles ahead of a weekend of great music.

Opening ceremony: For the first time since 1990, the Festival will officially open with a Theatre and Circus act on the Pyramid Stage at 22:00 BST.

Selfie stop at Carhenge: Got to remember these moments.

Keeping it cool: Quality mother-and-daughter-time spent over an ice cream.

Barking mad: The scrap metal dog returns to Carhenge for another year.

Crowds unwind and relax before the music officially begins on Friday.