LONGLEAT has refused to deny rumours that Glastonbury Festival could be held on the estate in 2018.

The four-day festival’s boss, Michael Eavis, has said it is likely to move away from its traditional home of Worthy Farm in two years’ time, leading to speculation that Longleat was the preferred new venue.

When Longleat was contacted asking if there is any truth to the rumours, a spokesman would only say that he "could not add anything."

Mr Eavis said the festival might move 20 miles down the road from Worthy Farm in two years and that the event will be the same size. Around 130,000 tickets are sold for Glastonbury every year, as well as thousands more to ‘local’ music fans. Holding the festival at Longleat would also bring thousands of workers and hundreds of firms to the county.

This week locals gave a cautious welcome to the news. Phil Jefferson, chairman of Chapmanslade Parish Council, said: “There would be some benefits to having the festival at Longleat, including a big boost to the local economy and improvements to the community, as I know Michael Eavis is always keen to carry out litter picking events and other things like that in Pilton.

“However, the Red Bull Air Race fiasco several years ago, which caused traffic mayhem throughout the whole of Wiltshire, should act as a warning, and Wiltshire Council would have to think very carefully about the infrastructure of such an event.

“Sunrise Festival was held in Chapmanslade in 2013 which we were all concerned about in the build-up, but in the end it wasn’t too much trouble at all and noise pollution wasn’t an issue.

“Of course, Glastonbury is much bigger than Sunrise, but it acts as proof that events of that nature can be hosted in the area without too much fuss being caused. We will have to wait and see.”

Cllr Fleur de Rhé-Philipe, Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Skills, Strategic Transport and Strategic Property, said: “We would have to look at all kinds of aspects if the rumours are true.

“However, nobody has approached Wiltshire Council about it yet.”

It is likely that the move away from Pilton Farm will only take effect for one year, and that the festival will return to its more traditional home in 2019.

Glastonbury Festival did not respond to requests for an interview.