Thousands of music fans crossed the Pennines to be part of Radio 1’s Big Weekend. Reporter Lauren Pyrah and photographer Chris Booth joined them.

HIGH winds, clouds and showers failed to deter the 40,000 music fans who turned out to see a host of global superstars – against the unlikely backdrop of Carlisle Airport.

Last night, Lady Gaga closed the show with a suitably flamboyant performance in yet another show-stopping outfit.

The US star, well known for her outrageous and often controversial choice of outfits, kept the excited crowd waiting, eventually emerging on to the Cumbrian stage 20 minutes late.

When she arrived, it was in a coffin and wearing a padded outfit to mimic a pregnancy.

The crowd’s patience was rewarded with a raucous set as lively as her PVC and leather-themed wardrobe.

Her breakthrough hit, Just Dance, went down well as the opening number and was followed by recent single Born This Way.

Headlining on Saturday were premium US rockers Foo Fighters, fronted by former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, who packed the main stage.

Earlier, fans had enjoyed performances by the Arctic Monkeys, Ellie Goulding, rapper Tinie Tempah, and the Black Eyed Peas.

The acts providing yesterday’s entertainment in the run-up to Lady Gaga’s arrival included indie outifit The Wombats, pop heartthrobs Bruno Mars and Olly Murs and My Chemical Romance, who are expected to headline the Reading and Leeds festivals this summer.

Festivalgoer Chris Goswami, from Middlesbrough, said: “We’ve had an amazing weekend. The festival has been very well organised and family-friendly, with crowds kept at a sensible level – and the best thing about it is it’s totally free.

“The music’s been second- to-none and I’ve enjoyed every minute of the weekend. I’d say it’s one of best festivals I’ve been to.”

As well as the 13,000 capacity main stage, there were three other stages showcasing a mix of UK and international acts.

Nearly 500,000 people applied for the 40,000 free tickets. The majority went to people in Cumbria, North Yorkshire and the North-East through a ballot system, with the rest distributed across the UK and given away in Radio One competitions.