Bassey confirmed for Glastonbury

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Dame Shirley Bassey will perform at this year's Glastonbury Festival, organiser Michael Eavis has said.

Dame Shirley, 70, who enjoyed huge chart success in the 1950s, '60s and '70s and sang James Bond theme tunes like Goldfinger, will appear on Sunday.

The news came as the local council granted the festival a new four-year licence, taking it up to 2010 with an expanded capacity of 177,500.

Mr Eavis told the BBC News website the licence was "absolutely fantastic".

He has also revealed Damien Rice would headline the acoustic stage along with The Waterboys.

The Glastonbury Festival has been running since 1970Almost 400,000 fans have registered for tickets, which go on sale on Sunday.

The Arctic Monkeys, the Kaiser Chiefs and The Who have also been lined up to play at the event from 22-24 June.

On Tuesday, Mendip District Council in Somerset agreed to the new licence, which will allow the event to expand from the previous capacity of 150,000.

But festival organisers must meet certain conditions, such as holding at least three public meetings with Pilton Parish Council before the event and one afterwards.

They must also provide event management plans every year and disclose festival dates with plenty of notice.

Some 22,500 of the extra tickets will only be sold in conjunction with coach travel to and from the event.

'Breathing space'

The licensing board was made up of various local organisations, such as the police force, fire brigade and environmental health.

Mr Eavis said the approval has given them a bit of "breathing space".

"In the past we have had to jump through the hoops, year after year. It is great that we can plan future festivals safe in the knowledge that it will all be approved," he added.

Charles Uzzell, the council's business manager for planning and environment, said the licensing process had "gone extremely well".

"It has involved a lot of hard work from the applicant, the council, responsible authorities and the local community," he said.

Mr Eavis is hoping the pre-registration system introduced this year will stamp out ticket touts.

Tickets worth £125 for the last event ended up being sold to some people for up to £700.