PM 'devastated' after friend dies in Glastonbury toilet

Senior Conservative Christopher Shale was discovered slumped in a portable toilet in a backstage VIP area yesterday morning.

David Cameron said he was "devastated" at the death of his constituency chairman, calling him a valued friend and a "big rock" in his life.

Initial suggestions from festival founder Michael Eavis that the wealthy businessman's death could be a "suicide situation" were later dismissed by police.

Sources said it was believed he suffered a heart attack.

Mr Eavis later expressed his "deepest sympathy" as a police investigation was launched on 900-acre Worthy Farm.

Mr Shale, a father in his fifties, was staying with his family in a Winnebago caravan surrounded by a host of celebrities and performers.

Mr Shale's death came just hours after he was quoted in a Sunday newspaper bemoaning difficulties his party faced in recruiting new members.

A post-mortem examination is to be carried out, and his body was transported to a local mortuary yesterday afternoon.

Mr Cameron, the MP for Witney, said he and wife Samantha were great friends of Mr Shale's.

"Sam and I were devastated to hear the news about Christopher," the Prime Minister said.

The West Oxfordshire Conservative Association chairman was "a great friend and has been a huge support over the last decade" in the constituency, Mr Cameron added.

"A big rock in my life has suddenly been rolled away," he said.

A distraught woman, staying in the backstage area between the Pyramid and other stages, was seen being comforted by officers yesterday morning.

Police confirmed that several of Mr Shale's relatives were at the site.

Mr Eavis sent his thoughts to family and friends, before adding: "We work very closely with the police, medical and other emergency services to ensure that the festival is as safe as possible for all 177,000 people on the site."

Inspector Chris Morgan said inquiries into the death were continuing.

He added: "It is only a couple of hours ago - we are still working on establishing a cause of death."

A police cordon, patrolled by dozens of officers and security guards, was put up near the backstage shower and toilet area.

The camping area where festival production teams and some performers stay was also blocked off. A host of celebrities were staying in the cordoned-off area. Wayne and Coleen Rooney are understood to have been camping in a luxury campervan nearby.

Revellers reacted with shock as they were told the area was "a crime scene".

Tom Waite, 35, from Cheddar, was among those staying in the VIP area. He said: "It's just awful for his family."