Glastonbury Festival supremo Michael Eavis has denied reports that the festival is taking a break in 2012 because the London Olympics will cause a shortage of portable lavatories.

But Mr Eavis, who celebrated his 75th birthday yesterday, admitted that the Olympics did play a part in his decision to make 2012 one of the festival's regular rest years.

"The problem is that the police force will be on duty for the Olympics," he said.

"We have a year off anyway every fifth year and have just pushed that forward a year. It is nothing to do with portable toilets.

"We are having a total year off, no Glastonbury Festival, no Pilton Party, no Extravaganza."

Mr Eavis and his wife, Liz, are planning a long holiday touring the British coast in their Mini.

"We will be starting off on the south coast, then go up the east, go to Scotland, into Wales and on to Cornwall" he said.