Noel Gallagher has offered Oasis fans a full refund after two major power cuts hit their opening show at Manchester's Heaton Park.

The show was blighted by technical problems from the second song, 'Rock N Roll Star', where the generators broke down forcing the band to leave the stage for 10 minutes.

They returned and launched into 'Lyla', which again had to be aborted early. A mammoth 40-minute wait ensued, during which the 70,000 strong crowd, who had each paid £45 for a ticket, started to get boisterous.

Upon eventually returning, Noel told the crowd: “Thank you very very much, this is a free gig - let's fucking have it! Anybody who has kept their ticket will get a full refund."

He continued: “The curfew's 11 but we're gonna keep playing till they drag us off stage”

Unsurprisingly this cheered the crowd up.

If all fans ask for a refund, it could cost a whopping £3million. With rain predicted over the weekend, fans are keeping fingers crossed there won't be any

technical hitches again. After performing a hit-ladden set, the band finished at 11.20pm with their cover of The Beatles' 'I Am The Walrus'.

(by Scott Colothan)