Music-lovers at Radio 1′s Big Weekend have held a minute’s silence to remember victims of the Manchester bombing.

The two-day festival kicked off with Zara Larsson and James Arthur on the main stage and an increased police presence following the atrocity at Manchester Arena.

After Arthur’s performance, Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw told the crowd: “I thought we could take a minute to talk about Manchester and the events of Monday night.

“Like you guys, all of us at Radio 1 have been thinking about Manchester all week and we’ve been completely heartbroken and we thought it would be nice if we could take a minute’s silence for everyone who lost their lives in Manchester on Monday.”

His voice cracking, he added: “After that we’re going to… defiantly make a really loud noise as a community of music-lovers, to show that we are here for everyone affected by that.”

The large crowd went silent before erupting in cheers to show support for Manchester.

 Radio 1's Big Weekend (Danny Lawson/PA)
Radio 1′s Big Weekend (Danny Lawson/PA)

Larsson opened the festival on the main stage and dedicated a song, Symphony, to victims of the attack.

She told the crowd: “Music itself, it doesn’t have a religion, it doesn’t have a country, or an ethnicity, it’s something that we do and it unites us all.

“I want this song to be dedicated to what happened in Manchester. It’s about wanting to be a part of someone’s symphony, someone’s life. That to me is the most beautiful thing.”

Armed police officers patrol outside Burton Constable Hall in Hull, ahead of BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend  (Danny Lawson/PA)
Armed police officers patrol outside Burton Constable Hall in Hull, ahead of BBC Radio 1′s Big Weekend (Danny Lawson/PA)

The two-day festival, which has been hit by some rain, will see 50,000 music fans gather at Burton Constable Hall near Hull to see acts including Katy Perry, Kings Of Leon, Bastille, Lorde, Kasabian and Little Mix.

Ben Cooper, Radio 1′s controller, said extra measures would be taken in the wake of Monday’s bombing following Ariana Grande’s show, which killed 22 and injuring dozens of others.

Mr Cooper said the safety of the artists, audiences and those working at Radio 1′s event has been their “absolute priority”.

He said organisers were conducting two rounds of thorough searches for those entering the venue, and dogs will be used.

Grande’s London O2 Arena gigs on Thursday and Friday were cancelled and the London premieres for Wonder Woman and The Mummy next week have also been pulled.

Dan Reynolds, frontman of Imagine Dragons, who are on the Big Weekend bill, told the Press Association: “It’s been a really sad, tragic week and felt across the world, especially in the music community.

“But the music industry is also standing up and saying no individual is going to stop music and put fear into the hearts of any of us. Music will continue.

“All we can do is love more, accept more and continue to play music because that is the greatest binding fear that can exist.

“My mom called me and tried to convince me not to come here but that (terror attacks) can happen anywhere in the world.

“I’d never live in fear and give that power to some other individual to make me not do what I love.”

Fans said seeing the police presence and the extra bag checks made them feel “secure” and was “comforting”.