Credit cards are an essential festival item

Music lovers heading off to a festival this summer have been advised to take one key essential item with them - not wellington boots but a credit card.

According to insurance provider esure, debit and credit card holders should not take large wads of cash to festivals with them as it leaves them open to theft.

With festival-goers tending to drink through their camping experience there is also a high chance cash could get lost, esure advised.

Instead, music lovers should take credit cards along and make use of the cash machines that are on site, withdrawing small sums of money each day as and when they need it.

Mike Pickard, head of risk and underwriting at esure home insurance, said: "Festivals such as Glastonbury are havens for opportunistic thieves and pick-pockets."

He added: "The very nature of these types of music events radically increases the likelihood of belongings being accidentally dropped, misplaced or damaged."

His advice comes as 175,000 music fans prepare to head to Glastonbury for one of the biggest events of the festival season.

Natwest has installed five ATM machines at Glastonbury this year, which will be available 24 hours a day between Thursday and Monday.

These machines will accept all major debit and credit cards.

Mr Pickard added: "As a rule of thumb, try not to pack anything that is of value.

"But for those festival-goers looking to take items such as mobile phones, digital cameras, MP3 players or portable DVD players with them, it’s crucial to make sure they’re adequately insured and that steps are taken to protect personal belongings at all times."

The firm also noted that credit card holders should ensure that they have taken out sufficient contents insurance while they are away.

Items purchased on credit cards often have added insurance benefits.

Earlier this month, London mayor Boris Johnson had to discipline a member of staff who used a credit card far too generously.

His deputy Ian Clement enjoyed a £2,300 spending spree with the card and made “inappropriate and wrong” claims on the card.

Clement said: "I made a mistake and I've accepted responsibility for it and I have been disciplined.

"I accept that it is embarrassing for him. I accept the issues around transparency. All the details are on the web. There has been no attempt to hide this."