Crowds of excited fans packed into Carlisle's Bitts Park yesterday for a concert by the country's biggest girl band.

Hundreds lined up well before the gates opened in a bid to grab themselves a prime spot for the Little Mix gig.

The girls took to the stage at 8.30pm, more than two hours after fans were let into the site.

Young girls and their families were in the park before 3pm in the hope of ensuring they were able to see Jesy, Leigh Anne, Perrie and Jade up close.

Megan Lister, 11, and mum Louise, 44, of Workington, are hardcore Little Mix fans, having already seen the band in Birmingham earlier this year.

They've also already bagged themselves a ticket for the band's Newcastle gig in November.

Louise said: "We're both fans, I think they appeal to everyone, not just the children."

Carol Chapplehow, 42, of Penrith, took her daughter Victoria, 13, to see the gig.

Carol said: "Victoria is a huge fan, she can't wait to see them. I think it's lovely that they came to Carlisle, it's nice to have these events so close to home."

Victoria, who also went to see the band in Manchester when they played as part of the X-Factor Live Tour, said she liked the band because they were sassy.

She added: "I'm really looking forward to when they'll play Power, it's my favourite song."

Daisy Irwin, 16, of Carlisle, said her favourite song was also Power.

She said: "I'm here with my friends, we're all Little Mix fans. It's my first Little Mix gig, I really like their music."

Police officers on duty at the concert got into the spirit of the event when they joined youngsters for an impromptu dance routine (video courtesy Beverley Grisedale-Stairs)