Loud music and mud-filled tents may not make for the most romantic of settings, but the Crisis Pregnancy Agency is making sure thousands of Oxegen revellers stay safe this weekend.

In an effort to combat unwanted pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), they will hand out 30,000 'Think Contraception' tins at the festival.

Almost one in every two people lining up to see acts such as The Verve and REM will be given a tin containing an individually boxed condom and sexual health information.

As an extra incentive for revellers to hold onto the kit an Oxegen site map and festival safety information is also enclosed.

The principal aim of the 'Think Contraception' campaign is to heighten the target audience's awareness of the probability of sexual risk taking with alcohol consumption, especially in entertainment, away from home and event settings.

Director of the CPA Caroline Spillane said: "We know that the 'Think Contraception' tin is very popular and the summer festival season offers a unique opportunity to reach our key target audience of 18-24 year olds.

Delighted

"We have distributed over half a million tins at music festivals and sports events since 2004," she added.

The tins will be given to festival goers at the campsite entrances on Friday and will also be available from Information and Welfare tents across the site for the duration of the festival.

Justin Green of MCD says the organisers are delighted that CPA have come on board to help keep promiscuous campers safe.

"The safety of our fans is paramount and we look forward to working with the Crisis Pregnancy as part of our safety initiative for Oxegen," he said.

A limited number of camping tickets are still available and the organisers are advising last minute enthusiasts to only buy tickets through official channels.

Officially the three-day festival starts tomorrow but the first drovers of campers began arriving in Punchestown this afternoon in the hope getting the best location to pitch their tent.

The festivities are expected to reach fever pitch on Saturday when Amy Winehouse and Stereophonics on stage one after the other.

And Race Against the Machine, Kaiser Chiefs, The Fratellis and The Kooks are expected to set pulses racing on Sunday evening.

- Kevin Doyle