Glastonbury Extravaganza organiser Michael Eavis has pledged the classical night of his two-day spectacular will definitely go ahead next year.

Mr Eavis was keen to quash rumours that he is thinking of abandoning the classical night and only hold a one night pop band performance in the future.

This year's classical night featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and violinist Nicola Benedetti attracted only 3,000 people compared to Madness's sell-out performance with 12,000 fans the previous night.

Within hours of the Extravaganza finishing, the rumours were flying around that the classical night would not happen again because of the low audience numbers.

But Mr Eavis said last week: "The classical night will definitely be going ahead. I would not think of doing the Extravaganza without it.

"It may not be as popular in ticket sales as the popular bands night. But there are still many people who love to come along to it – it is such an experience. It is thanks to bands like Madness attracting such huge support and a full house that we can then afford to carry on and put on the classical night as well.

"This year's classical night was first class – Nicola Benedetti's violin solo brought tears to my eyes."

Mr Eavis said he was already in talks about possible performers for next year's Extravaganza.

He responded to a few complaints about rowdiness of some of the crowds and a bit of "urban exuberance" on the part of Madness. He said: "They were on tour and arrived on a bus and went straight on stage to perform – they got on the bus straight after to go to Bristol Airport and flew off to Tenerife for their next tour date.

" I am sorry if some of the antics and language on the night upset some of the audience – but I don't think they even realised they were playing in the grounds of Glastonbury Abbey."