The Manic Street Preachers have been booked to headline at the V2002 festival, replacing the injury-hit Travis.

The Welsh trio will play their first gigs of the year when they play the dual-location event at Weston Park, Staffordshire and Hylands Park, Chelmsford, Essex, later this month.

It will be the second time in three years that they have taken the top spot at the festival.

The Chemical Brothers join the Stereophonics as headliners

Travis pulled out of this year's V2002 to allow drummer Neil Primrose to recover from an operation on his spine after damaging it in a pool accident.

Other headliners at the events on 17 and 18 August are Stereophonics and the Chemical Brothers.

The Manics - who release a greatest hits album Forever Delayed on 28 October - will top the bill on the NME stage.

Festival director, Bob Angus said: "We're really pleased to have secured the performance of such a high profile headliner for the NME stage this year.

Spinal injury

"The Manic Street Preachers are one of the UK's most important bands and top off the bill very nicely."

Rock band Travis are dropping out of next month's V2002 festival because of drummer Neil Primrose's spinal injury.

The 30-year-old hurt himself diving into a swimming pool in Belfort, eastern France earlier this month while the Scottish band were on tour.

Doctors have told him he is expected to make a full recovery - but added that he must not drum for at least eight weeks to avoid aggravating the injury.

In a statement, the band said: "While we are extremely disappointed not to be appearing at this year's V2002 festival, we feel under the circumstances it would be wholly inappropriate to replace Neil while he continues to recover.

"After weeks of uncertainty, we are relieved to learn that Neil is expected to make a full recovery. We are sure Travis fans will agree that without Neil Primrose, Travis are incomplete."

Primrose was knocked unconscious on 7 July when he dived into the pool and struck his head while the band were relaxing after performing at a festival in Belmont. He had to be dragged out of the pool by friends.

He suffered multiple fractures in his vertebrae and underwent surgery on 11 July, and was flown back to the UK by air ambulance last week.