Spirits high at rain-hit Reading festival

Festival-goers have refused to let rain and mud dampen their spirits at Reading Festival.

Some 87,000 people are at the site, with a further 75,000 at the sister festival in Leeds.

Heavy rain showers had threatened to turn the festival into a mudbath, with the Environment Agency having lowered river levels near the site to prevent it flooding.

The sun came out this  afternoon, much to the delight of the crowd.

Acts performing at Reading include Pulp, Madness and The Strokes. Friday night was headlined by My Chemical Romance, with Liam Gallagher's new band Beady Eye topping the bill on the NME Radio 1 stage.

Craig Richards, 18, from Guildford, Surrey, said: "The weekend got off to a bit of a sheepish start with the rain, but it's perked up. Everyone's dry, everyone's happy. The acts are great and there's a good atmosphere going."

Joe Robinson, a 19-year-old soldier also from Guildford, said: "The mud's not been too bad. You've just got to take it as it comes. Beady Eye were really good, but they're not a patch on Oasis. I'm more of a Noel fan."

Lee Rowden, 19, from Upminster, who works in a record shop, said: "There's a good variety of music this year. The Strokes are the highlight for me."

One of the main acts on the Lock Up stage on Sunday evening are London punk act The King Blues.

Acts on the main stage at Reading on Sunday include Muse, Elbow and Frank Turner.