WHEN two bands collide it is either mayhem or magic and the merger of McFly and Busted has won them a place in an elite circle.

Arriving at the enchanted forest of Westobirt Arboretum we walked across the field being serenaded by a group of young girls singing Get Over It with great gusto.

They were not disappointed as their idols blasted out the pop rock number and other favourites, including Air Guitar, amidst a sea of plastic guitars all being strummed enthusiastically by young and old in the crowded arena.

Opening for McBusted were an Irish band under the wing of Louis Walsh called Hometown.

A young outfit of impish singers who have notched up two number one hits in Ireland. They fired up the mosh pit at the front of the stage with their latest single Where I Belong.

McBusted gave us a set that was a fireball of solid gold pop, tinged with a rocky blitz from Harry's strictly dynamic drums underpinning some rich guitar riffs.

Tom obviously had a sore throat but still plunged in gamely and, apart from a little less power, gave a creditable performance.

Dougie came in for some stick from his band mates over his hair cut and tight, white jeans - which he did not bring back from the jungle.

A slow hands sway heralded It's All About You, the Children in Need anthem for 2013, but we were back to a leaping crowd singing madly along to McFly hits Obviously and Star Girl.

My friend said that the energy of the band reminded her of the immortal genius of the Baycity Rollers and their influence over their Tartan Army.

Acrobatics was the theme of this concert with running handstands and dodgy dance moves from Hometown, a leapfrog entry by all six of McBusted musicians and little girls, all around the site, showing off their stage school dances and cartwheeling to the music.

The guys certainly know how to work an audience as the food vendors were also swaying along in their vans and, not to be left out, even the police officers, patrolling the arena, joined in the dancing.

The musicians created a great rapport with the crowd except for the occasional lapse into toilet humour.

This form of banter usually fails unless delivered with razor sharp wit, but the obsession with the word 'pooh' went down a bundle with the under 12s giggling behind their hands.

The final song Year 3000, sung amidst a circle of trees all lit up against the darkening skies, was a storming finale for a family concert that was a lot of fun.