Chase And Status and Annie Mac take to the stage on Friday as they mark the opening of this year’s V Festival.

The annual music and comedy event takes over both Staffordshire’s Weston Park and Chelmsford’s Hylands Park this weekend with global stars such as Pink, Ellie Goulding and Jay Z.

Acts across both events – which will swap line-ups between Saturday and Sunday – also include Stormzy, Jason Derulo, Clean Bandit, James Arthur, Madness, Craig David, Steve Aoki, Busted and The Vamps.

Ella Eyre, Sean Paul, Rudimental, George Ezra, Dizzee Rascal, Raye, Scouting For Girls, Nadia Rose and Sigala are also lined up for sets.

Among the comedians are Joel Dommett, Lee Nelson, Seann Walsh and Joe Lycett.

Approximately 150,000 ticket-holders are expected to descend on the two venues and have been told to expect delays caused by extra security checks, following in the footsteps of other major festivals this summer.

Commuters have also been warned of high traffic levels on all major roads surrounding both areas.

So far, it seems that festival-goers journeying to Weston Park are in for the wetter weekend, with rain forecast throughout Friday night and Saturday.