Volunteer staff celebrating 40 years of Festival Medical Services working at Glastonbury were delighted by a birthday visit from founder Michael Eavis.

He took time out during the festival to tour the on-site medical centre and meet staff and patients.

Mid-Somerset-based Festival Medical Services (FMS) was founded in 1979 and has come a long way from its beginnings in the kitchen at Worthy Farm to the modern-day operation, which is headquartered in Evercreech.

FMS treats between 3-4,000 patients during every festival and prides itself that more than 98 per cent of them can be treated at the festival and do not need to be transferred to hospital. Sprains, strains, cuts and abrasions top the list of most commonly presented complaints.

As well as the Medical Centre, there are five other medical units on site, and two pharmacies. FMS also has a clinical team present at each of the main stages while artists are performing.

In addition to acute emergency care, FMS also offers emergency dentistry, podiatry, physiotherapy and mental health support.

Medical centre manager Lors Alford, who hosted Michael's tour, said: "We were thrilled that Michael was able to give the time to come and see us – it really lifted the spirits of our volunteers and the patients loved being able to see him too.

"It's our 40th anniversary – and we have grown up with the festival, and we have a special relationship with it. Michael has always made us feel very welcome. We were delighted to host him and appreciate his support for all that we do," said Lors, a senior nurse in the emergency department at Bath's Royal United Hospital.

"He was very impressed with the range of services we deliver on-site and particularly enjoyed touring the X-ray and ultrasound facilities.

"Many of our staff work in high-pressure jobs in the NHS, but still give their own time to come to work at the festival and Michael was very appreciative of that."