Carlisle has made sure it is a show that Canadian rocker Bryan Adams won't forget - thanks to the wet summer welcome in mid-July.

Nicknaming his Bitts Park performance tonight "The Big Muddy", Adams said towards the end of his two-hour set: "I really admire you for sticking around in the mud. Thank you all for being here.

"It has been a fantastic evening. I've loved it when you sing - you are so good."

He'd told the estimated 10,000-strong crowd earlier that the rain ensured it was a night no-one would ever forget.

His Get Up tour set list included a rendition of Tina Turner's I Can't Stand The Rain as well as all his most famous hits from Summer of 69 to Everything I Do.

The rain began to lightly fall as Bryan Adams took to the stage just after 8pm.

By the end of the concert much of the crowd was wet through despite the sea of plastic ponchos, Wellingtons and waterproofs.

Yet no-one seemed to mind and the audience lapped up everything Adams and his band had to offer.

Crowds flocked to Bitts Park early to ensure they made it through security checks and secured their spot for the open-air show.

A long queue weaved through the park for at least an hour before gates opened at 6pm.

Among those at tonight's gig were Tess Wigham, of Irthington, and colleagues Hayley Bell, Emma Spry and Anne Scott, who work for agricultural charity Utass based in Middleton-in-Tees.

Emma said: "It is great to have Bryan here, so close. "Last time I saw Bryan I'd left my tickets in the local McDonalds. Fortunately we found them in time and I only missed the first song.

"This time I was certain I didn't leave them anywhere."

Fans flocked from across Europe for the concert, one of only a small number of UK gigs he is performing.

They included Patrik Jonsson and Malin Lauren from Sweden.

360 degree image from Bryan Adams in CarlisleSpherical Image - RICOH THETA

Lauren Day, 23, from Lauder in the Scottish Borders, brought her hen party for a night to remember.

Her mum Wendy Lyle has seen Bryan Adams before.

Lauren, who gets married on August 27, said: "My mum and I have seen him before. My mum has seen home something like 40 times, she has been everywhere from Vancouver to Edinburgh."

Liz Stanwell, of Upperby, Carlisle and her friend Ghislaine Duncan, from Annan, were joined by Louise McDonald, from Aberdeen. Louise said: "It is my fifth time of seeing him. There's always a great atmosphere and he has a great rapport with the crowd."

Friends Mary Messenger, Allison Inglis, Anne Hope and Vickie Bell, who are all mental health nurses in Carlisle, have been waiting months to see the superstar.

Anne said: "I can't believe he's here. Tonight was unmissable. We've been waiting since Christmas to come here for this."

Barbara McGuire, from Walney in Barrow, was celebrating her 60th birthday with daughter Katie and friends Lorna Rayson, Anne Wilson, Sarah Wilson and Helen Pearson.

Lorna said: "We love him and we've seen him through the years, usually at Manchester Arena, so it is nice to see him somewhere like this."

Carlisle is now preparing itself for a second night of live music.

Little Mix take to the Bitts Park stage tomorrow night.

Fans lucky enough to have tickets to both concerts include 11-year-old Emma Fisher from Ivegill, who spent most of tonight's gig on her dad Stephen's shoulders.

He said: "Emma coming again to see Little Mix so she wanted to see what it was all about tonight.

"There's seven of us here and another group coming tomorrow. It's great, it's friends and family."