Page last updated at 15:17 GMT, Monday, 30 June 2008 16:17 UK

Festival shrugs off Verve comment

By Ian Youngs
BBC News music reporter, at Glastonbury

The Glastonbury site on Monday
Thousands of revellers have now left the Glastonbury festival site

Glastonbury organisers have played down comments by Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft that festival founder Michael Eavis opposed the band's headline slot.

Eavis's daughter Emily rebuffed the claim, saying "that's not true at all".

"We've liked The Verve for ages and we were really pleased to have them on," she told the BBC News website, adding that the group "really pulled it off."

Roads around Worthy Farm remain congested as thousands make their way home from the three-day event.

Motorists are being asked to remain patient in queues, which are gradually clearing.

I'm not sure where the Keane thing came from because Keane were never an option this year
Emily Eavis

The Verve closed the festival on Sunday night with the anthemic Bittersweet Symphony and new single Love Is Noise.

Addressing the crowd in front of the Pyramid stage, Ashcroft said: "I want to thank Emily Eavis for inviting us to play Glastonbury.

"I hope her dad realises why she booked us now. I think he was a bit worried we wouldn't be as good as Keane or something."

But Emily Eavis, who co-organises the event, refused to respond to the jibe, saying it was "not a big deal".

"I'm not sure where the Keane thing came from because Keane were never an option this year."

'Good vibe'

Crime increased at this year's festival currently, with 544 incidents including drugs reported, compared to 298 at this stage in 2007.

The main reported crime is thefts from tents, which now totals 263 incidents, compared to 49 last year.

Richard Ashcroft of The Verve
The Verve's performance has been praised by festival organisers
There have been 152 arrests, compared to 183 in 2007. The majority of these were for drug offences.

Despite this, a police spokeswoman said Glastonbury "remains one of the safest festivals of its kind".

Rapper Jay-Z and singer Amy Winehouse were the main draws at this year's event, which sold off despite concerns over sluggish ticket sales.

Winehouse, 24, was seen apparently lashing out at the audience during her Pyramid Stage performance on Saturday.

Emily Eavis said things had gone "amazingly well" and that there was "a really good vibe".

"I think it was the best Glastonbury crowd we've ever had," she continued. "They were so determined to make it great."


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