Tens of thousands of music fans have descended on Hylands Park in Chelmsford for this year's Radio 2 in the Park
The BBC radio station's flagship music event is being held in Chelmsford - the birthplace of radio
Bryan Adams is headlining on Saturday while Def Leppard top Sunday's bill
The likes of Belinda Carlisle, Ronan Keating and Jessie J will also take to the stage on Saturday
Sunday's line-up includes local lad Olly Murs, Anastacia, Soul II Soul and Suede
Shivani Chaudhari
Reporting from Hylands Park
Image source, Shivani Chaudhari/BBCLarry Eliemenye, 40, lives locally and has come to Hylands Park with his family.
Unfortunately, due to traffic in the area, he missed Stereophonics' set earlier, but he says he cannot wait for Jessie J at 17:00 BST.
Not long left to wait, Larry! Up next, though, is Kid Creole & The Coconuts.
Image source, Getty ImagesEssex's very own Rylan Clark looked glorious on stage earlier while he was introducing Ella Henderson.
Just look at that neat hair, perfectly trimmed beard and crisp shirt.
Hopefully we see some more of him later.
Marti Pellow has finished his set and is now talking with Radio 2's Jo Whiley and Romesh Ranganathan backstage.
"With an audience like that, I could work with that all day," he tells them.
"It was a pleasure to hang out with the good folks of Chelmsford."
"You have been a pleasure to sing for this afternoon," he tells the Chelmsford crowd.
"This is fantastic - what a great day. I love Essex."
The feeling's mutual, Marti!
Image source, ContributedAdam May, 27, from Chelmsford is at the festival with his partner Abbey Kitchenham, 26, and he just might be Essex's biggest Stereophonics fan.
Today's set by the band was his 21st time seeing them and his eighth time this year alone.
He even went to San Francisco in the United States to see them earlier this year. What an effort!
"Stereophonics were a brilliant start to the Chelmsford party with Dakota and Maybe Tomorrow getting everyone to sing along," says Adam.
"I'm also looking forward to Bryan Adams headlining later."
Image source, ContributedStereophonics front man Kelly Jones rocking out on the Radio 2 in the Park stage
Marti Pellow has got the whole crowd singing with a rendition of Love Is All Around by Wet Wet Wet.
The crowd vibes are nothing short of immaculate right now.
Keep it up, Chelmsford!
Elliot Deady
Reporting from Hylands Park
Image source, Elliot Deady/BBCHelen lives just up the road in Great Dunmow and is wearing my two favourite things: leopard print and cowboy boots.
She's with her daughters Amber and Imogen, 12 and eight, who are here for their first-ever festival.
Marti Pellow is welcomed on stage by Jeremy Vine and Tony Blackburn and the crowd are going wild.
The former Wet Wet Wet frontman and platinum-selling solo artist has a career spanning four decades.
Pellow, 60, has sold millions of albums worldwide and has had multiple UK No 1 singles, including Love Is All Around.
He said: "There's something really special about live music and that shared connection with the audience — especially when it's for Radio 2, who've supported me and my music over so many years."
Nadira Tudor
Reporting from Hylands Park
Image source, Nadira Tudor/BBCEnya Palmkvist, 49, from Denmark and Neil Kent, 47, from Heybridge in Essex say the event has been well organised.
"The festival is awesome," says Enya.
"I have travelled all the way here to attend it with Neil. It’s fantastic, well organised and there's a lot of stars I want to see, especially Belinda Carlisle, Bryan Adams and the Stereophonics.
"It's a beautiful place to be and everyone seems happy."
Ella Henderson finishes her set on stage by brilliantly belting out her song Ghost, which the crowd screams for.
She thanks the Essex crowd and tells everyone to have a "wicked and best day".
Same time next year, Ella?
Marti Pellow is next up. He takes to the stage at 15:00 BST.
Shivani Chaudhari
Reporting from Hylands Park
Image source, Shivani Chaudhair/BBCJust look at these lovely sunflower hats. Can anyone else top them?
University friends Cath Kitchen, 64, Jane Smith, 63, and Lynne Thomson, 69, have travelled from Gloucestershire, Northampton and Berkshire respectively.
They say they are most excited to see Ronan Keating and Jessie J.
Ella Henderson, 29, first rose to fame in 2012 after appearing in series nine of the X-Factor when she was just 16 years old.
The British singer-songwriter is best known for her hits such as Ghost and Crazy What Love Can Do, alongside new single Me & You.
Some lucky fans had the chance to see her appear on Scott Mills and Rylan Clark's podcast Pop Top 10.
The trio were at Chelmsford Theatre to record their podcast live for the first time ever and rated the best karaoke songs over the past few decades.
Elliot Deady
Reporting from Hylands Park
Image source, Elliot Deady/BBCThere are no prizes for guessing where Claire, Phil, Emma, Sian and Leanne have travelled from.
Phil says their matching Wales kits are a "Temu special".
Everyone except Emma has "Who's Emma?" printed on the back of their shirts - a Love Island reference.
The group has matching leopard print outfits lined up for tomorrow - how very Essex!
Image source, Shivani Chaudhari/BBCPopstar Ella Henderson, best known for her hits Ghost, Glow and Yours, has taken to the stage after being introduced by Rylan.
Her first song proves a bop with the crowd cheering her on.
"All right Essex, I want to hear you sing to me," she shouts.
Here's a reminder of who will be playing on the main stage throughout today:
Stick with us as we'll be bringing you updates all day.
Absolute scenes.
It seems like Stereophonics lead singer Kelly Jones is about to wrap up their set, thanking the crowd and saying "have a good day".
But then the band move straight into their instantly-recognisable hit Dakota.
Cue the crowd going wild, of course.
"Let me hear you sing it, Chelmsford!" Jones shouts.
Now that was great.
Stereophonics were blaring out one of their biggest hits - Have a Nice Day - just as the sun came out.
They have just exited the stage after huge cheers from the crowd.
What a way to start the day!
Wanda Fletcher is also bringing plenty of colour to the party
Wanda Fletcher, from Northampton, tells us this is the third Radio 2 in the Park she has been to.
"Thankfully the sun is shining today," she says.
Chris and Claire Jones have been together for 12 years
Meanwhile, Chris and Claire Jones are here from Maldon.
"You can't beat live music," says Chris, who claims to have visited almost every single V Festival at Hylands Park.
Image source, John Sutton/GeographOnly the birthplace of radio itself! (thank you Mr Marconi)
He established the world's first radio factory right here in 1899. It broadcast the first official radio sound in 1920.
Chelmsford is one of the UK's newest cities, having been granted city status as part of the Queen's diamond jubilee celebrations in 2012.
Only a 30-minute train journey south into London, it still hosts BBC Essex's studios in New London Road, as well as nearby Essex County Cricket Club.
This city also played home to the notorious King Henry VIII in the 1520s, who stayed at the Palace of Beaulieu, now the home of New Hall School.
Hylands House, a Grade II listed building in the heart of Hylands Park, has even doubled for the White House in season three of The Crown.
But the county town of Essex has not won favour with all of its guests.
According to The Dickens Society, external, the Great Expectations author once said: "If anyone were to ask me what in my opinion was the dullest and most stupid spot on the face of the Earth, I should decidedly say Chelmsford."
Ouch.
This is Essex, mate. We're not boring here.
Michelle Steward says she is always this colourful
Michelle Steward, from Ipswich in Suffolk, has won best hairstyle of the day award from our reporter Elliot Deady.
"This is what I would wear on a normal day," the 47-year-old tells him. "I'm always this colourful. Everything just sparkly and bright, I just love it."
Tracy Crone has injected her fair share of colour too
As for Tracy Crone, 59, from Benfleet, she booked her tickets for this weekend as soon as they went on sale.
She says she is most looking forward to seeing Stereophonics and Trevor Nelson.