'The best ever Glastonbury'

Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis hailed Bruce Springsteen's powerhouse performance a crowning moment in the history of the festival – even though it will cost him a £3,000 fine.

Eavis praised The Boss's stamina at the age of 58 after he played for two hours and 40 minutes, finishing just before 12.40am.

But the mammoth performance on Saturday night took the US rocker beyond the watershed agreed with Mendip District Council – by nine minutes.

Eavis, the owner of the 900-acre Worthy farm, said he did not mind paying because he was so good.

"I gave him 10 minutes and he took nine," he said.

"I'll pay the fine – £3,000. Paul McCartney, 2004 headliner, paid me back. I'm going to pay the Bruce Springsteen one myself. It's not a lot because it was fantastic. The last nine minutes were spectacular."

Praising the other headliners – Neil Young on Friday and Blur last night – Eavis said: "This must be the best one ever."

Six cases of suspected Swine Flu failed to worry the 139,634 paying festival goers.

Two students and a child, none of whom are linked, were advised to leave the event after being diagnosed with possible cases.

The rain, which threatened to ruin the festival on Friday, failed to make a return performance despite a flood of forecasts to the contrary.

Instead, it was a weekend of blazing sunshine and sweltering temperatures.

As of yesterday, crime was down on previous years, with 368 offences recorded. There were 148 thefts from tents up until yesterday afternoon – half of last year's figure.

An Avon and Somerset police spokeswoman said: "We've had a very big push on crime prevention and the initial weather helped with people staying in their tents."

Mobile phone theft was also down by 45 per cent thanks to police handing out lanyards – to keep them round campers necks – and to a registration scheme. At the latest count there were 138 arrests, of which 117 were for drugs offences.