THE BBC will send more staff for its coverage of Glastonbury Festival than it is dispatching to the global spectacle of the World Cup Finals.

Corporation music chief Bob Shennan said 300 staff were being lined up for the weekend, outstripping the 272 who are to head to Brazil to work on its football programming in the coming weeks.

The BBC said it was trying to keep numbers down wherever possible but each had a "clear and accountable role" to bring hours of coverage from the rural Somerset festival.

It is broadcasting 30 hours of TV coverage across its channels, including a location edition of The One Show, and over 50 hours of radio across Radio 1 and Radio 2, plus digital stations. There will also be further performances on the iPlayer, red button and via the BBC website.

Headliners for this year's event are Arcade Fire, Kasabian and Metallica, with acts such as Robert Plant and Dolly Parton also among those who will play.

A team of 17 presenters will be hosting for the weekend including Jo Whiley and Dermot O'Leary.