Festival promoter Melvin Benn who has decided to “part company” with organisers.

The promoter who helped transform the Glastonbury Festival from a hippy hangout into a world-famous music event has decided to part company from the organisers.

I’ll be sorry to see him go but he has masses of responsibility with all of his shows across the world and now is a good time to part company

Melvin Benn’s involvement with the Somerset event dates back to the 1980s and his firm, Festival Republic, has been responsible for licensing and operational control since 2001.

A joint statement by founder Michael Eavis and the firm said the time was “right for both parties to go their separate ways”.

Mr Eavis said Mr Benn, who is also chairman of Wembley Stadium and has been instrumental in making Glastonbury a more professional event, had “earned his stripes” going back to the 1980s.

He said: “We both learnt a lot about festivals then, and Melvin and I have managed to put together what is the Glastonbury we have now. I’ll be sorry to see him go but he has masses of responsibility with all of his shows across the world and now is a good time to part company.”

Mr Eavis organised the first festival in 1970, after being inspired by the psychedelic delights of the Bath Blues Festival.

Around 1,500 people paid £1 to see Marc Bolan, who arrived at the large open field in a velvet-covered car, headline the first Pilton Pop Festival.