THERE was a touch of Midsummer Madness at Westonbirt Arboretum on Friday night, as thousands of teenagers, and their parents, made their way to the first of the famous forest’s ‘Forestry Live’ gigs for 2014.

Headliners for the evening were ‘Little Mix’, winners of the X Factor back in 2011 and who are now revelling in their success around the world and in the middle of a 14-date UK tour.

The setting for the concert could not have been more idyllic; at the end of a gloriously sunny day the picnics were out in force and as the more strident (and vocal!) fans made their way to the front of the stage, the older generation made do with a selection of sandwiches and a drink or two surrounded by the ancient trees of Westonbirt.

And the great thing was, thanks to an amazing set and digital screens the audience was able to enjoy the concert just as much from afar as from up close.

Perrie, Jessie, Leigh-Anne and Jade looked fabulous as they took to the stage for the opening number, Salute, and they certainly started as they meant to continue with an energetic dance routine to accompany some really excellent vocals.

Running up and down the stairs of the two-level stage, you could tell that the band really wanted to put on a show that their fans – known as Mixers – would never forget, filling the stage with activity, especially when interacting with their troupe of male dancers.

It didn’t really matter whether you know the songs or not - and to me this is the real test of a great Westonbirt show - but the girls made sure there was something for everyone as they included several covers including mash-up of covers including Jason Derulo's Talk Dirty To Me and Macklemore's Can't Hold Us, as well as Cameo’s Word Up and How Ya Doin’.

About a Boy, Change our Life, Dark Horse, Dancing to a Different Beat and DNA were also firm favourites with the Mixers, but they saved their most popular song ’Wings’ until the very end, making sure that the full 90-minute set ended on a real high note.

The Forest Live gigs continue at Westonbirt in July, with performances by Boyzone, Deacon Blue and Katherine Jenkins