Sizzling temperatures at V2002

The V2002 music festival is underway with visitors basking in the glorious weekend sunshine.

Unlike last year, when pouring rain turned Hylands Park into a mud bath, there have been blue skies and high temperatures hitting 30C.

Welsh rockers The Manic Street Preachers, who are playing their first gig of the year, have stepped in as last-minute replacements for Travis.

They brought the main stage at Chelmsford to a close while at Weston Park, Staffordshire, it was The Stereophonics.

Festival organisers Virgin, say the sunny weather has made the 2002 event the best yet.

"This has been the most successful year yet. The audience atmosphere was fantastic and everyone loved the sunshine and the music," a spokesman said.

A near-capacity crowd of 60,000 were enjoying temperatures sizzling into the 80s at Weston Park, with the weather predicted to cool off on Sunday night.

Playing at Weston Park Saturday were Primal Scream, Doves, Beverley Knight, Gomez, Starsailor, Basement Jaxx and The Coral.

Among the performers for Sunday are Badly Drawn Boy, Alanis Morissette, Canadian rockers Nickelback, Elvis Costello and Ian Brown.

Travis have been forced to pull out after drummer Neil Primrose damaged his spine in a swimming pool accident in France.