ONE of the largest crowds to gather on Teesside enjoyed performances by Spice Girl Victoria Beckham and starlet Billie Piper at a Radio One show yesterday.

The 60,000 crowd enjoyed a warm day, interrupted only by a few drops of rain, as the Radio One Big Sunday roadshow descended on Middlesbrough's Stewart Park.

Posh Spice joined Another Level's Dane Bowers and Truesteppers on stage and attracted the most attention from the cheering fans.

She was singing her upcoming solo single Out Of Your Mind when the revealing top she was wearing revealed slightly more than planned.

A spokesman for Radio One said: "Victoria was wearing a beautiful burgundy leather catsuit with a slash across the front.

"Unfortunately, her performance was very energetic and allowed people to see one or two things they perhaps shouldn't have."

However, Posh Spice shrugged off bad publicity on various aspects of her personal life and popularity.

She said that coming to Middlesbrough was like "coming home", not dissimilar to the North-West and Cheshire, where she lives.

She said she missed Brooklyn, who was being baby-sat at home while husband David played soccer in a tournament in Germany.

Meanwhile, 17-year-old Billie said she was really nervous before the event, but was looking forward to returning to the North-East.

Other artists who wowed the crowds were Darude, Samantha Mumba, Nu Generation, Precious, My Vitriol and MJ Cole.

Nicola Di Tullio, for Radio 1, said: "It's been a great success. The people of Middlesbrough seemed to know how to enjoy themselves and helped make it a very enjoyable event.

"There's no reason why we shouldn't come again, but I can't say when."

She said the new-look roadshows were very successful because they were on a Sunday and featured more artists and DJs than previously.

Emily Smith, 19, of Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough, said: "It was a great day out, really good fun.

"I knew Victoria was very thin, but I wasn't expecting her to look quite so small and fragile.

"She was very good and friendly."

Her friend, Sophie Cromer, 24, said: "It was brilliant. It felt as if you were up there with the acts. The crowd was really up for having a good time and reacted very well to the DJs and the groups.

"I thought the DJs were more professional and fun than the acts.