More than 90,000 people will come through the site each day and with the return of dispersal order powers police will have greater control this year to tackle any organised crime, drug dealing and ticket touts.

As well as greater police powers the passing of the so-called Reading Bill last February means ticket touts can now be prosecuted for their actions.

Chief Inspector Dave Parker said: “No legal highs are allowed on site and we have searches on the way in and the way out to keep people safe. We ask people to leave behind any valuables they don’t need and only carry the money that they need for the weekend.”

With headliners including Arctic Monkeys and Blink 182 the Bank Holiday event provides the perfect celebration for teenagers who have just received their school results.

Chris Lines, 18, from Uxbridge, was one such fan and after getting the grades he needed to study biochemistry at Reading University he is looking forward to the festival before the town becomes his new home.

He said: “I can’t wait to see The Hives and Cage The Elephant. This will be my third time here and I think it’s going to be a big one.”

Local businesses are also gearing up. Reading West Tesco Extra expects to have 35,000 customers passing through its doors every day while the festival is on.

Photos shared on twitter made light of how the store had replaced fresh fruit and vegetables with bottles of spirits and a spokesman for the store said it is the busiest weekend of the year.

It is likely to be even busier than at Christmas. In the past five years police have managed to reduce the number of crimes on site from 500 down to 200 last year and Mr Barker is hopeful to continue on their successes.