Blur's set on the Pyramid Stage closed Glastonbury festival 2009

A knockout performance by a newly reformed Blur brought Glastonbury festival to a close.

The Brit Pop band stormed through songs such as Girls And Boys and The Universal, and were even joined on stage by Phil Daniels for their 1994 hit Parklife.

The death of Michael Jackson failed to dampen spirits at the Somerset event, hailed by organisers as "the best one ever", although several performers honoured the King of Pop in their sets.

Lily Allen and Lady GaGa both wore solitary white gloves in apparent tributes, while Dizzee Rascal lead thousands in a giant chorus of Thriller.

Singer Gabriella Cilmi, who at 17 wouldn't have been alive when Jackson was at the peak of his artistic success, included lines from Billie Jean in her own song Sweet About Me.

Celebrities such as Peaches and Pixie Geldof, Gavin And Stacey actor Matthew Horne, Alan Yentob and Andrew Marr were all seen out and about enjoying temperatures of 24C.

Speaking at a press conference about the festival, festival founder Michael Eavis said: "I know I say this every year but this must be the best one ever. I've waited for Neil Young for 39 years and with Blur tonight that makes three major headliners. Bruce Springsteen did a hell of a show. What energy that chap has got at 58. Amazing. It is probably the best show of his life."

He refused to reveal any possible headliners for next year saying: "I don't think we can ever do it better than we did this year."

Meanwhile, police were celebrating lower crime levels at this year's festival. A total of 445 crimes were recorded - a figure which is down from 483 last year.