Glastonbury gig for Wombles upsets festival founder

The founder of the Glastonbury music festival is unhappy that novelty 1970s act "The Wombles" had been booked to appear at this year's event, the BBC reported on Thursday.

Michael Eavis said booking the band, based on the furry characters who tidied up litter on London's Wimbledon Common in the children's books and TV show of the same name, was "a bit of a mistake"

"I've got about 25 stages and managers and bookers for each of the stages. I can't control every single one of them but I do get cross about that kind of thing," the BBC quoted Eavis as saying.

The Wombles, who had a series of hits during the 1970s such as "Remember you're a Womble", will join the likes of U2, Coldplay, Beyonce and Morrissey at the festival which runs from June 24-26. The band will be peforming on the Avalon stage.

"He probably doesn't realise what a fantastic live act the Wombles are," the band's creator Mike Batt told the BBC.

"Uncle Bulgaria (one of the characters) told me he thinks Mr Eavis is probably perfectly aware that festivals like his are so popular because they offer an eclectic mix for everybody."