The great Glastonbury clean-up has kicked into action as around 175,000 people begin to leave the festival site.

Campers have until 6pm this evening to leave Somerset's Worthy Farm, before a litter-picking crew of 800 are given a week to clear the ground of rubbish.

Volunteers started sorting through recycling yesterday, while tractors carrying magnetic strips are ready to trawl the 1200 acre site to pick up stray tent pegs.

Other workers are on hand to carry out a fingertip search and ensure that every inch of the land is cleared, so that organiser Michael Eavis' dairy farm can resume functioning.

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The full clean-up operation is expected to take up to six weeks.

Eavis has praised this year's festival as "a great success again, in spite of the mud" and confirmed that he already has next year's headliners booked.

The 78-year-old, who founded Glastonbury in 1970, refused to reveal who the bands are but said one band was not British and Prince is not one of them.

Eavis also suggested that the festival could run for "a few more years" before discussions need to start about its future.

"Myself, I think I can run another six years, which would take me up to about 50 years," he said. "Then see what happens after that."

This summer's musical extravaganza was headlined by Arcade Fire, Metallica and Kasabian, with Dolly Parton honoured as the "biggest attraction since The Rolling Stones" last year.

Read more: Is Glastonbury the most over-rated festival in the world?

- Independent