He told Pollstar that more than 90 percent of the 600-plus people who’d responded to a BBC Radio One poll were in favor of using the cards as a method of beating the black market traders. He decided to ask fans for their views because he was concerned that some may feel the measure is too oppressive.

The cards would include a photo and a chip with personal information that would be read at the festival gates.

So far, Eavis has spoken with three ticketing companies about producing a software system that will be easy to operate and sufficiently technologically advanced to last 10 years. He admitted he hadn’t gotten as far as putting a figure on the “considerable cost” involved, but remained adamant that he’ll continue to do “everything in my power” to beat the forgers and touts.

Three years ago, Eavis paid more than £1 million to build a fence around the Glastonbury site to keep gatecrashers out. This year, in a bid to see that as many tickets as possible were bought by the end-user, he limited fans to two each, personalized their tickets and insisted they bring some identification – either a driving licence, passport or household bill.

When tickets when on sale, demand was so great that the Glastonbury Web site froze and created such mayhem that thousands of callers spent hours on the phone trying to get through.

That aside, Eavis quickly realized he may have to employ a more draconian strategy as some Glasto-goers simply forgot to bring ID and others showed up with photocopies of household bills.

The touts sold tickets with fake IDs to match and Eavis realized he’d have to raise the game if he was to have any real chance of winning it. He believes the photo ID ticket is his most watertight option.

In 2004, the idea of having a passport as the only acceptable ID was thrown out over fears that too high a percentage of Glastonbury fans would lose them.