Glastonbury gatecrashers dig 'Great Escape' tunnels to sneak into event for free

23 June 2023 , 13:26

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A security officers keeps a lookout at one of the watchtowers along Glastonbury's perimeter (Image: Press Association)

Glastonbury gatecrashers are said to be digging Great Escape style tunnels and using grappling hooks to break into the festival.

The five day festival held in Somerset is one of the highlights of the music calendar and sees over 200,000 people descend on the area.

But every year, organisers, like almost every festival, are plagued by the problem of nuisance Brits trying to get in for free.

Whilst Glastonbury isn't left in the chaotic scenes of some others festivals, rule-breakers try and sneak, climb, or barge their way in, trying to get past security.

But this year, some are taking it to new levels to get inside.

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The Times reported that some people are digging Great Escape-esque tunnels under the massive fence to get in.

They have friends inside who have pitched tents right against the inside of the four-metre metal barrier to hide the holes as they surface.

Meanwhile, others are said to be using grappling hooks to scale the walls "like Batman".

One security worker told the outlet: “They try to come in under the wall. It’s like The Great Escape but in reverse.”

Gatecrashers have long favoured going over the fence - but this year some are trying to dig under it instead (Mirrorpix)

Another said: “It’s wild. We’ve had to chase people down who bolted through the gates with their bags on, and some use grappling hooks to pull panels off the wall and climb over, like Batman.”

The 8km wall around the festival is described as a “super fortress fence” that is “virtually impenetrable”.

Sunbelt Rentals, who designed and installed the wall, say on their website: “Standing at 4.12m high and 7.8km long, the fence has unique high security features including an attached external roadway to prevent tunnelling, 45-degree overhangs to prevent climbing and zero nuts and bolts to stop the fence being tampered with.”

The security fence runs for 8,000 metres (PA)

But even with the formidable defences in place, some Brits still try their luck and over 100 gatecrashing incidents were reportedly dealt with last year.

The wall is also dotted with a number of watch towers as well as having roving buggy patrols too.

One music fan in his 20s told The Times how he and a friend had bought grappling hooks and were planning to break in out of “pure desperation”.

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They said they had tried to buy tickets and failed and weren’t willing to miss out on a second year of the festival.

Last year, a YouTuber filmed himself crawling through a gap in the metal perimeter to sneak into the festival.

Zac Alsop spent hours in a river before he tried to sneak in at night.

Glastonbury have been approached for comment.

Kieren Williams