THE family-friendly Beautiful Days festival lived up to its name as thousands descended on the picturesque East Devon venue in glorious sunshine.

With headline act The Levellers opening the event and warm sunshine drying out the site, a large crowd made up of all ages set up camp for the festival in the grounds of Escot Park, near Ottery St Mary.

The five stages are providing a wide range of entertainment, including highlights Squeeze, Gabriella Cilmi, Seth Lakeman and Supergrass.

Laura Farrow, from festival promoter DMF, said the atmosphere was fantastic.

She said: "Everything's going very well and the sun is shining so far.

"There is a lot of colour as the camps are being set up and there are plenty of kids playing in the children's area."

Promoted as a family-friendly event, the three-day festival draws acts from around the world, this year including Australian musician Xavier Rudd, who has a large following in Canada as well as his home country.

Although it is never advertised, Beautiful Days which is in its sixth year, sold out more than a month ago.

Over the three days, more than 12,500 people will go through the gates.

There had been concerns that the thousands of people descending on the site yesterday would cause traffic jams but police and festival organisers said that everything had gone smoothly.

"There were no issues, everyone got in," Ms Farrow said.

A police spokesman said: "All the traffic control we put in place seemed to have worked". "I'm pleased to report there were no traffic problems."

The festival is continuing today with slots from chart-topping acts Supergrass and Turin Brakes, and a performance from comedian Ross Noble on the Big Top stage.

The music carries on across five stages today and tomorrow. The festival also offers a range of activities from face-painting and site art, to craft activities, street theatre, a children's area, and food and craft stalls.

Beautiful Days will come to an end tomorrow , as it began, with a performance by ever-popular Levellers.