SUMMER started with a bang at Westonbirt Arboretum on Thursday as chart-topping drum and bass band Rudimental got the four-day run of outdoor gigs underway with one giant party.

Luminous facepaint, festival flowers and even some optimistic high heels were on display despite a few persistent showers while support singer Anne-Marie played a well-received set of upbeat street songs written by her own fair hand.

Few cared about the rain as the Forestry Commission became a huge outside nightclub as soon as Londoners Rudimental took to the stage.

Main members Amir Amor, Piers Agget, Kesi Dryden and Leon Rolle, known for their collaborations with pop talent including Ed Sheeran, Emilie Sande and John Newman, were joined by other musicians to bring their varied style of drum and bass with a touch of dance, pop, ska and reggae to a hugely enthusiastic crowd.

And play to the crowd they did – bringing them up with unstoppable beats, flashing strobe lights and unwavering, stunning vocals before lulling them with a foot-tapping chill out moment or two only to bring everyone back up with yet another crescendoing catchy tune.

Their set was made up of past hits and songs from their current album, We The Generation, with headline track Love Ain’t Just A Word hitting just the right note from collaborator Anne-Marie.

The audience of all ages were on their feet all night dancing with as much frenetic energy as the band themselves to I Will For Love and radio hits Lay It All on Me and Waiting All Night.

Not many dance acts have played Westonbirt but Rudimental certainly set the standard high.