THE venue might have been new but for the thousands of revellers making their way to this year's T in the Park the excitement was the same.

Carrying a mix of sunscreen, welly boots, t-shirts and raincoats, the festival-goers were ready for anything.

Some 70,000 music fans are expected to attend each day of the event, which is taking place for the first time at Strathallan Castle in Perthshire.

Long time festival fans said that they were adjusting to the new venue. Jess Lewis, 28, of Lennnoxtown, said: "My friends and I have been coming to T in the Park for eight years and we were a bit sceptical about the new site.

"When you have been going somewhere every year for that length of time you get used to it and you know where everything is. But we love it so far.

"We came up last night to get a good spot in the campsite and it was a bit of a rowdy night. So we're feeling tender today. It's going to be a great weekend."

Glasgow band Prides became the first ever act to grace the main stage at Strathallan and got the crowd dancing despite the drizzling rain.

Ross Hamilton, from Bellshill, said: "They were brilliant. And it was good to see a Scottish band opening Scotland's best festival."

In keeping with tradition, Friday was 'fancy dress Friday' and Karen Paul and her friends were fitting in with the castle theme by dressing as princesses.

Ms Paul, 24, from Bonhill, said: "Tomorrow it's going to be back into the welly boots and shorts. But I don't care if it rains, I'm here to have fun."

While the atmosphere at Strathallan was upbeat, some revellers were disappointed by the size and the layout of the new site.

Kirsty Anderson, 19, said: "I was at Balado twice and it felt vast. This site is tiny in comparison. Maybe it's just the new layout but it's very crowded."

Ryan Fisher, 24, from Cumbernauld: "The site is definitely much smaller than Balado. For having the same number of people as the other site, you can really tell the difference. It's packed - there's no space just to get away from the action around the stages.

"The good thing is it doesn't take long to get from one stage to another but you're tripping over people on your way."

Organisers DF Concerts said almost 60,000 campers had already arrived by last night. Police had made 12 arrests and recorded 83 crimes, including 12 thefts from tents. A total of 142 people had visited the hospital tent so far, with four people taken off-site for treatment.

Geoff Ellis, festival director of T in the Park, said: "There's an incredible atmosphere onsite and Prides did Scotland proud with a brilliant opening performance on the main stage."

"As it's a brand new site for everyone this year, we ask fans not to assume anything and to take the time to explore and get to know the campsite and the arena. We're starting with a blank canvas and we want everyone to respect our beautiful surroundings and to use the bins and the toilets provided."

It came as bar operators faced criticism for the pay and terms offered to young people working at the festival.

The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) said under-21s were being employed by Barcode Recruitment for £5.30 per hour "having been led to expect" the adult minimum wage of £6.50, and criticised a tips policy which sees all gratuities donated to charity.

A spokeswoman for the bar operator said: "There are two wage tiers which reflect different age ranges and also the national minimum wage.

"Working at T in the Park, or any other UK festival for that matter, provides an experience for young people as well as paid employment - they are able to enjoy the festival experience, are provided with meals and offered subsidised transport to and from their place of work.

"It's important to point out that all terms and conditions of employment are made clear at interview stage and candidates accept employment through their own choice".