The stage was up and the final touches were being made yesterday as the Norfolk Spectacular prepared to welcome its first campers today.

The two-day festival, at the Norfolk Showground, will be visited by up to 30,000 people each day, with 2,000 campers staying over.

Setting up the event has been a two-year process for festival organiser Roy Trickett, who said he was proud to be bringing the festival to the county.

He said: 'I am very much looking forward to it. I think it is a good thing for Norfolk and the customers certainly seem to think so too.'

Unfortunately for Mr Trickett though, he won't be able to sit back and enjoy the festival.

'We don't get to see any of it. There is tonnes going on.'

Among those working on the stage yesterday was Danny Wyatt, of Chapefield, Norwich, who is used to travelling across the country to set up festivals.

He said that some of his colleagues at Serious Stages travelled from Leeds Festival to set up the stage, before going on to Reading to dismantle the stage there.

Artists on the main stage over the weekend include Alexandra Burke, right, Tinie Tempah, Taio Cruz, Tinchy Stryder, Eliza Doolittle and N-Dubz.

Gates open at midday today for campers, with the arena opening at 1pm tomorrow and Sunday. The music will end at around 10.30pm both days, but tomorrow campers will be entertained by DJs from 11pm-2am.

Campers are allowed to take raised barbecues and alcohol, but not glass, into the camping area.

Parking is free, although VIP parking is available for �5.For details on day tickets visit www.norfolkspectacular.co.uk or call 0871 224 113.

For more on the artists visit www.eveningnews24.co.uk

See today's Evening News Going Out guide for full details of the event and Monday's paper for full coverage in an eight-page supplement. You can also see clips of the bands at www.eveningnews24.co.uk.