Former US President Bill Clinton has urged a packed audience at a Rolling Stones concert to help stop the destruction caused by global warming.

Mr Clinton said it was up to average citizens to "stop the planet from burning up", at the free anti-global warming event in Los Angeles on Thursday.

The former president was invited to introduce the legendary rock group to the thousands of Stones fans in the Staples Center.

The Natural Resources Defense Council, a non-profit environmental activist group, organised the concert, which also attracted stars including Leonardo DiCaprio and Pierce Brosnan.

Mr Clinton: "Global warming is the responsibility of individuals"

"Even though the Stones once said, 'It's only rock 'n' roll', tonight it's way more than rock 'n' roll," the former president said, in reference to one of the Stones' biggest hit, It's Only Rock 'n' Roll.

Mr Clinton talked about the importance of raising awareness of global warming.

He added: "The new energy future is decentralised, entrepreneurial and needs people like you to say, 'Give me a clean car, give me solar shingles to put on my roof, give me a clean future'."

The Stones then took over, playing hits Start Me Up, Street Fighting Man and You Got Me Rocking.

Lead singer Mick Jagger addressed the audience.

"We've had some great opening acts... But we never had a president of the United States as an opening act," Jagger said.

Star support

About 12,000 fans had won tickets in a draw organised on the internet.

Others had got their tickets in a nationwide giveaway by local radio stations.

DiCaprio supports anti-global warming policies

Actor DiCaprio attended the concert as a keen supporter of the anti-global warming campaign.

Earlier on Thursday, at a press event to promote the concert, the Gangs of New York star urged the public to "adopt an environmental lifestyle".

Organisers said the Stones would balance out the pollution caused by the show with donations to build electricity-generating windmill farms in the US.

The show comes 34 years after the Stones performed a free concert at the Altamont Speedway in Livermore, California.

Then, fighting broke out and four people died.

The Stones are currently on the North American stretch of their Licks World Tour. The international run will begin later this month in Australia.