This year's Party In The Park, was a resounding success as chart acts as

And if it wasn't exactly another Glastonbury - we can't remember the Manics banging on about the release date for their next single as Steps insisted on doing yesterday - then it certainly gave a younger, cleaner, more sober gathering, the chance to experience 'live' music from the midst of a huge crowd. The toilets were nicer too.

The Corrs kicked things off just after midday with the rare sight of Andrea Corr wearing trousers! Yep, not a Stella McCartney nightie in sight as they warmed up the crowd with a gentle canter through 'What Can I Do' - Andrea skipping politely across the stage as the cameramen fought to get the best close-up.

Catatonia - a late, surprise addition to the bill - provided a much needed 'alternative' edge to the afternoon

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But when it came to plugging a new single, nobody did it better than H from Steps. "This is our new single, 'Love's Got A Hold Of My Heart' and it's out on July the 12th". Buoyed by news of their summer US tour with Britney Spears, the canary yellow clad group then wiggled, hand jived and pirouetted their way through a short mimed set that at least gave the crowd something to do with their hands.

Earlier the Pet Shop Boys made a welcome return to the scene, acknowledging this impressive venue with 'West End Girls' and squeezing - surprise - their new single 'I Don't Know What You Want' into a set that closed with 'Go West' and a reminder that "we'll be back in the autumn".

Boyzone at least played it live and real. You could tell this was the case because they had a band of old session blokes sitting down and wearing headphones. Also, Ronan's voice sounded rough and he barked orders to the sound man in between verses. None of which seemed to bother their huge support in the early evening sunshine.

Worst sight of the day was Geri Halliwell's corkscrew hair, best sight of the day definitely Claire from Steps' bare midriff. The organisers claim that Party In The Park is the UK's biggest and best music event of the year. That might be pushing it a bit, but it'll certainly help sell records at what is traditionally the worst time of the year for record sales. Cynical perhaps, but this is an event for the business by the business that demands next to nothing from the stars who take part except the ability to get to Hyde Park on time and donate half an hour of their time to the Prince's Trust charity.

We laughed, we danced, we sang along and we were all tucked up safely in bed by eleven. Now, when's the Reading Festival again?