BLACKBURN felt the noise as 25,000 people descended on Ewood Park for the largest concert ever to be held in the town.

More than a dozen acts took to the stage -- built in front of the Walkersteel Stand especially for the gig -- including boy bands 5ive, A1 and Human Nature as well as pop sensations S Club 7 and Atomic Kitten.

People flocked from across the North West for the Feel the Noise event, jamming the M65, M6 and main roads into Blackburn throughout the day.

The earliest fans arrived at the stadium at 7am -- some three hours before the gates opened and young and old alike were on the covered-up Ewood pitch, more used to playing host to stars of the soccer world.

The five-hour event started with performances from up-and-coming girl groups Massai and Supersister, before S Club 7 arrived in a luxury coach, which was given a police escort in and out of Blackburn.

Dance acts Darude, N-Trance and Phats and Small also appeared along with DJ Pied Piper, whose summertime anthem Do You Really Like It recently topped the charts.

Solo artists came thick and fast, with Dane Bowers, Farrell Lennon, Ellie Campbell, Luke Galliana, Lisa Roxanne, Sheryl Deane, Naimee Coleman and Aaron Soul appearing between up-and-coming groups Allstars and Dimestars.

Performances from Human Nature, Atomic Kitten -- who have cancelled most of their other gigs due to illness -- and A1 all served as a warm-up to 5ive, whose three-song set ended in spectacular style with a crescendo of fireworks. Despite complaints from some sections of the Darwen End that they could not hear the music -- fans were free to wander on and off the pitch -- most people left the event happy.

Blackburn teenager Michelle Woods said: "The whole thing was great, even the smaller acts. We came to see S Club 7 but we were at the bar when they came on!"

Her friend Kelly Holden added: "N-Trance we excellent and so was Dane Bowers, but he does have looks on his side."

Rayha Bateman, of Blackburn, said: "It has been a great day, especially as the weather held out."

Many residents near the stadium said they hadn't had any problems with the event.

Norman Simms, of Bolton Road, said: "Most of the people going were quite young. The sound was kept within the stadium and everyone behaved themselves."

The charity event was organised by radio station Rock FM. DJ Sally Stone, who returned to live in Blackburn two years ago after spending several years in Seattle, said: "Being in front of 25,000 people was fantastic. What a great day! Everyone enjoyed themselves and I am so proud to have been a part of it."