The Somerset Cider Bus at the Glastonbury Festival has over the years become almost as famous as the iconic Pyramid Stage it sits opposite.

Bus owner Julian Temperley caught up with the Western Daily Press at the festival to share his thoughts on cider and the festival.

Cider maker Mr Temperley has been selling his Somerset Cider at Glastonbury festival since the very first event in 1970, and now his bright blue cider bus has become one of the landmarks of the event.

He started selling cider from a marquee at the Shepton Mallet festival 40 years ago, but in 1990 acquired what was the Taunton Cricket Club bus and transformed it into what has become a landmark on the Glastonbury map.

Thousands of revellers migrate to the garishly painted double decker every year, which doubles up as a bar to sample Mr Temperley's wares from the Burrow Hill orchards at Kingsbury Episcopi, Martock.

Mr Temperley himself sleeps in the top deck of the bus, which is just a stones throw from the Pyramid stage, throughout the festival – and claims it is the comfiest bed he sleeps in throughout the year.

When asked how many pints of cider are sold at the cider bus during the festival he joked: "I could tell you but then I would have to kill you. But joking aside we do sell a lot of cider."

The cider bus makes the annual trip to Glastonbury but spends the rest of the year in a barn on Mr Temperley's orchard – save a yearly trip for its MOT.

Mr Temperley said: "It's actually a private car license, so I drive her around, she usually does about 300-400 miles a year between the festival and the garage. I sleep on the top deck during the festival, it's a nice little bed in the front, I actually think it's the best bed I sleep in all year. But I do recommend, and I'll admit to being over 55 here, getting to bed by 2.30am if you want to last the weekend. We have to be up by 8am, so I need that sleep or I wouldn't last the festival."

On Glastonbury Mr Temperley said: "I've seen a lot of change here, but I think the festival is the happiest place to be it has ever been. Glastonbury, like the West, is anarchic and long may it be so.

"Michael Eavis is now famous, Somerset is famous, cider is famous, cheddar cheese is famous, and this festival embodies what this part of the world is all about.

"It is an extraordinary event. It has been a huge local economic stimulus for the area.

"For us alone we bought our cider brandy distillers with cider-soaked £5 notes from Glastonbury."

Mr Temperley added: "Really we're just stick in the mud local farmers like Michael Eavis, but year on year we just hopefully improve things and Glastonbury festival remains our busiest week."