The Eurovision Song Contest got under way in Helsinki with another outing for last year's winners, rock group Lordi.

Verka Serduchka, a drag queen from Ukraine, was the overwhelming pre-show favourite with bookmakers.

But it was 23-year-old Marija Serifovic from Serbia who won the contest, scoring 268 points with her ballad, Molitva.

There were 24 acts in total throughout the show, and Maria Sestic of Bosnia-Herzegovina was the first to perform.

Irish folk group Dervish were also involved early on but suffered the indignity of coming last once the votes were in.

Scooch "flew the flag" for the UK, in the words of their song, but ended up in joint second-last with just 19 points.

D'Nash were representing Spain, one of the four biggest financial contributors to the Eurovision Song Contest, which began in 1956.

Fans in the host country hoped Finnish singer Hanna Pakarinen, who sang Leave Me Alone, would be victorious.

And Swedish group The Ark failed to do as well as fellow countrymen Abba, who won Eurovision with Waterloo in 1974.

About 12,000 spectators attended the extravaganza, which had a record number of applications - 42 - this year.

Many fans went to great lengths to prepare for the show, being held in Finland's biggest ice hockey stadium.