The Darkness thrilled fans at the Reading Festival on Friday

The Reading and Leeds festivals are hosting many of the hottest names in rock, while the Creamfields dance all-dayer is taking place in Liverpool.

Some 55,000 revellers braved the mud at Reading to see The White Stripes, The Libertines and Morrissey on Saturday.

Leeds festival-goers did not have a mudbath, with The Darkness and The Offspring headlining there on Saturday.

The Darkness topped the bill at Reading on Friday before moving on to Leeds, and described Reading as "a pinnacle".

Wellies were obligatory fashion accessories at Reading

"This is our ambition," singer Justin Hawkins said. "Me and [drummer] Ed used to come here and drink lager in a tent and always enjoyed it. It's always the best festival for us.

"I think it's got a magic, a certain mystique. It also has a rock heritage, as opposed to heaving fields and Bedouins."

Reading Festival organisers and police said crime and disruption was down on last year, with the atmosphere noticeably calmer than previous years.

About 170 offences and 32 arrests were recorded by Saturday morning, most connected with thefts from tents.

A police spokeswoman said: "The feedback we're getting from everyone is that it feels like a different kind of crowd - much more mellow than previous years."

Meanwhile, dance favourites including The Scissor Sisters and The Chemical Brothers are among the highlights at Creamfields at Old Liverpool Airfield, Speke.