Muse played the first of two huge concerts at Wembley Stadium in London tonight (September 10).

The Devon band unleashed an action packed set for fans, which came complete with spectacular pyrotechnics and a flying spaceship.

Performing at Wembley for the second time in three years, Matt Bellamy, Chris Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard were led on stage by an army of flag bearers.

One flag, carried by several people, read: "They will not control us."

Muse kicked off the show with 'Uprising', after which singer Bellamy shouted an extended "Hello Wembley" to the sold-out crowd.

The group then launched into fan favourite 'Supermassive Black Hole', which was proceeded shorly afterwards by 'Neutron Star Collision' from the soundtrack to The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.

Muse have brought their full stage setup for the two gigs at the home of English football, the centerpiece of which is a huge diamond cut stage with built-in video screens.

The band's 21-song set tonight heavily favoured songs from their latest album 'The Resistance'.

As well as the title track, they also played 'United States Of Eurasia' and 'Guiding Light', which saw huge confetti fireworks shoot into the crowd.

The stunts continued into ‘Undisclosed Desires', during which Bellamy, Wolstenholme and Howard were lifted high above the audience on a raised platform.

The band's set also included several songs from their back-catalogue, with ‘Starlight’, 'Time Is Running Out', ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ and their cover of ‘Feeling Good’ inspiring huge crowd sing-alongs.

After briefly leaving the stage, Muse returned for an encore which included an appearance from their much talked about flying saucer during 'Exogenesis: Symphony Part 1 (Overture)'.

The UFO hovered over the crowd before an acrobat dropped out from underneath it and began performing above the audiences's heads.

The band ended their performance with a powerful rendition of ‘Knights Of Cydonia’.

Muse played:

1. Uprising
2. Supermassive Black Hole
3. New Born
4. Neutron Star Collison
5. Butterflies And Hurricanes
6. Guiding Light
7. Hysteria
8. United States Of Eurasia
9. I Belong To You
10. Feeling Good
11. Undisclosed Desires
12. Resistance
13. Starlight
14. House Of The Rising Sun / Time Is Running Out
15. Unnatural Selection
16. Solider’s Poem
17. Exogenesis: Symphony Part 1 (Overture)
18. Stockholm Syndrome
19. Take A Bow
20. Plug In Baby
21. Knights Of Cydonia

Muse had earlier been preceded on stage by Lily Allen, who was making her last public live appearance before the birth of her first child.

Despite being well into her pregnancy, the singer bounced around the stage during the hits 'F*ck You' and 'Everyone’s At It’.

Allen was joined during her biggest hit 'Smile' by Professor Green, who rapped an extra final verse in the song. The pair also performed the London rapper's hit 'Just Be Good To Green' together.

"I hope you enjoyed this bit of the evening - I know I certainly have," Allen said during closing song 'The Fear'.

White Rabbits and The Big Pink also performed earlier in the evening.

Muse end their residency at Wembley Stadium on Saturday (September 11), when they will be supported by Biffy Clyro, White Lies and I Am Arrows.

(by Jason Gregory)