Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis says this year's festival was the muddiest in its 46-year history.

Michael Eavis

Michael Eavis

The 80-year-old dairy farmer insisted the awful conditions at the music extravaganza eclipsed 1997's event, which was dubbed the "year of the mud", and he couldn't believe how happy people were despite the weather.

He said: "I drove round the whole site last night. It took right up until 4.30am and the sun was up and there was just thousands of happy people with smiles on their faces despite the adverse conditions. It is extraordinary. I do not know how they do it, but they love it so much," he said.

"Every single bit of woodchip in the south of England, all of it is here over 1,000 acres. I've never seen mud like it in the whole life. This is worse than 1997.

"In all 46 years, it hasn't been as bad as this."

Michael admitted he is keen to sign Fleetwood Mac up as a headliner for a future Glastonbury, which takes place at his farm in Somerset, south west England, but they are proving to be too expensive.

He added to the Guardian newspaper: "Adele did it for less, Rolling Stones did it for a reasonable rate. We can't afford to spend £4-£5 million on people to play.

"Mick Fleetwood said he would do it himself, but come on. I'd like the rest of the band and they all want to be paid a lot of money."

Coldplay closed this year's festival last night (26.06.16) by paying tribute to Viola Beach, whose four members - Kris Leonard, River Reeves, Tomas Lowe and Jack Dakin - and their manager Craig Tarry plunged to their death from a bridge in a tragic car accident in Sweden in February.

Muse headlined the festival on Friday night (24.06.16) followed by Adele on Saturday night (25.06.16).