THE V Festival kicked off today with crowd-rousing performances from a line-up of rock, pop and urban acts.

Rock band Muse topped the bill at Hylands Park in Chelmsford.

Music lovers also enjoyed Pop Idol winner Will Young.

Forecast rain held off at the Chelmsford site throughout the day and the sun regularly poked through the clouds to add to the feel-good atmosphere.

Muse's V appearance concludes a gruelling world tour, after which the Devon three-piece will return to the studio to begin the follow-up to 2006's Black Holes and Revelations album.

British R'n'B singer Estelle entertained fans at Chelmsford today with songs from her Nationwide Mercury Prize-nominated album, Shine.

Announcing she was celebrating her record going gold, she got the crowd dancing with hits like No Substitute Love and American Boy.

On the 4Music stage Welsh soul singer Duffy got fans singing along to Warwick Avenue and Mercy from her debut album, Rockferry.

The V Festival, now in its 13th year, sold out in just 90 minutes when tickets went on sale in March.