The Prodigy and Slash top Friday Download Festival bill

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Page last updated at 07:22 GMT, Saturday, 9 June 2012 08:22 UK

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By Del Crookes
Newsbeat reporter at Download Festival Keith Flint from The Prodigy

The Prodigy have made their only UK festival appearance of the year after topping Friday night's bill at Download rock Festival.

The dance band were 20 minutes late for their set but made up for it with more than an hour of hits including Voodoo People and Firestarter.

The festival started more than two hours late.

Organisers had tried to make the arena and main stage safe following high winds and heavy rain.

The entire site at Donington Park was turned into a quagmire with tractors needed to help cars get in and out of some parts of the car parks.

One junction of the M1 was also closed as queues of up to three hours formed.

Shows cancelled

Fans took to Twitter to vent their frustrations.

Lara Baker said: "Can't get near the Download site, insane traffic. And now apparently the arena is closed as the mud is SO bad. Great start..."

Sara said: "Not happy atm - spent 6 hrs getting to Download, 5 of them in a queue at Donington Park waiting to get into a car park... ridiculous!"

Terrible weather delayed the start of the festival by a couple of hours

Eighties rock band Europe missed their slot at the festival after getting stuck in traffic and performances from Rise To Remain and Cancer Bats were cancelled because of the late start.

No more rain is forecast at the site until later on Sunday (10 June).

Inspector Chris Brown from Leicestershire Police said: "People are coping well despite the weather and spirits are high among festival-goers and police officers.

"Reported crime is lower than it was this time last year.

"We've evicted a number of people from the site and a 30-year-old man from Manchester has been charged with three counts of theft involving cash and mobile phones.

"The best advice we can give people is to come with warm clothes and waterproof footwear and clothing."

Chase & Status pulled in a large crowd for their performance on Friday afternoon.

Metallica are headlining Saturday night at the festival with a re-formed Black Sabbath topping Sunday's bill.

Other bands playing include Biffy Clyro, Soundgarden, Jack Black's Tenacious D, Steel Panther, You Me At Six, Kids In Glass Houses and Lower Than Atlantis.

Download is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.