Scotland's Newest Festival TRNSMT Kicks Off

7 July 2017, 07:37 | Updated: 7 July 2017, 07:39

Scotland's newest music festival, TRNSMT starts this afternoon, with tens of thousands of music fans expected in Glasgow.

The three-day event at Glasgow Green was created after it was announced T In The Park was to "take a break'' this year as organisers look to resolve issues around its recent move to a new site in Perth and Kinross.

Rag 'N' Bone Man and George Ezra will be on the main stage at the non-camping festival with security expected to be tight in the wake of recent terror attacks.

Police Scotland said there is no specific intelligence suggesting a threat to the event but armed officers are to patrol the area.

With tens of thousands of fans expected over the weekend, police said there will be a zero-tolerance approach to trouble.

Flares, smoke devices and other pyrotechnics are among the items banned while revellers have been urged not to bring bags larger than an A3 sheet of paper and warned to expect searches.

Superintendent Stewart Carle, the event commander, said: "Glasgow will see an influx of tens of thousands of people attending this three-day music festival - travel routes and the city centre are going to be busier than normal, so please plan your journey ahead.

"Our preparations with our partners have been ongoing for many months and the public's safety is our top priority.

"There will be an increased security presence at the event and in the city centre.

"Firearms officers will be present near the venue, however it is important to stress there is no specific intelligence to suggest there is a threat to the festival - this deployment is standard in crowded places given the current security level of 'severe'.

"Our advice remains the same - be alert but not alarmed and enjoy the festival.''

Organisers DF Concerts plan to make TRNSMT a permanent festival in Glasgow but said it can co-exist with T In The Park if the event returns.

Other bands playing between Friday and Sunday in Glasgow Green include Belle And Sebastian, Catfish And The Bottlemen, and The 1975.

Festival director Geoff Ellis said ticket sales had "totally exceeded expectations'' in the first year of the event, with Saturday day tickets sold out.

"We are delighted that Saturday day tickets have sold out in this the first year of TRSNMT,'' he said.

"We still have limited capacity for Saturday and want to ensure that the music fans that want to attend the full festival or enjoy two days of music have the opportunity to do that.

"The reaction so far to the line up and the event has been fantastic and ticket sales have totally exceeded expectations and we can't wait to welcome the first wave of festival goers for what will be an exceptional headline performance from Radiohead.''