Heavy rain expected as campers descend on T in the Park

CAMPERS are already travelling to Balado for T in the Park, Scotland's biggest music festival, which takes place this weekend.

• The film You Instead was filmed at T in the Park last year

Up to 85,000 are expected to descend on the site over the course of the weekend for performances from names like Beyonc, Arctic Monkeys, Coldplay and the Foo Fighters.

Amongst the homegrown talent in the line-up is Primal Scream, who will play their classic Screamadelica album in full, Fife singer-songwriter KT Tunstall and Dumfries dance star Calvin Harris.

Anyone planning to attend the event should pack wellies and waterproofs, as forecasters have predicted heavy rain, hail and possibly lightning over the next few days.

Forecasters predict heavy, slow-moving showers and possible hail storms for the area today.

The wet weather is expected to continue tomorrow and at the weekend, broken by sunny intervals.

Brendan Jones, a forecaster with Meteogroup, said: "Every day there will be heavy downpours to contend with and the possibility of gusty winds, hail and lightning."

Campers who arrive this evening will be able to watch the first public premiere of You Instead, which was filmed at T in the Park last year.

The David Mackenzie-directed film is a love story set against the backdrop of the festival.

Tayside Police said the Citizen T initiative launched last year will continue for the 2011 festival.

It encourages positive community behaviour, including looking out for friends and fellow campers, binning litter, taking your tent home at the end of the weekend and having fun while staying safe.

• scotsman.com will be publishing reviews, blogs and photos from T in the Park throughout the weekend at scotsman.com/tinthepark. Follow it all on Twitter @scotsman_titp