The father of the drummer of rock band Muse collapsed and died shortly after the group's headline act at Glastonbury Festival.

Bill Howard, 62, father of drummer Dominic, collapsed near the main Pyramid stage at 1.15am today and was pronounced dead at the Festival Medical Centre half an hour later.

It is understood he died of a heart attack. Police said the death was not being treated as suspicious and the family of the deceased are asking to be left in peace at this "dreadfully difficult" time.

The popular Devon band were the top act on the third and final night of the three-day event.

A statement released on behalf of the band read: "It is with great sadness that we must announce that Mr Bill Howard, father of Muse drummer Dominic, died earlier this morning at the Glastonbury Festival, a short time after the band's headlining set.

"Mr Howard collapsed on site at 1.15am and died shortly after. Avon and Somerset Police are not treating the death as suspicious.

"In this dreadfully difficult time, we request that the privacy of Dom's family and friends is respected. Our sincere and heartfelt sympathy extends to Dominic and the Howard family."

The band has cancelled their show in Bergamo, Italy, on Wednesday with decisions on other shows pending.

A police spokesman said that the 62-year-old man from Teignmouth in Devon collapsed near the main stage at 1.15am this morning and was pronounced dead at 1.45am.

The death is not being treated as suspicious and the coroner has been informed.It was the second death at this year's world-renowned music festival. Neil Clinnings, 24, from the Cleveleys area of Lancashire, was found collapsed in the early hours of Saturday morning in a car park outside the festival site. He was pronounced dead an hour later. His death is believed to be drugs related.
how tragic