Sadly it's the pungent smell of a local farmer's muckspreading but it's not enough to put Girls Aloud fans off.

The original reality show stars were playing at Harewood House following an arena tour this year and an appearance at the V Festival, an event more suited to indie stars than poptastic girl groups.

But that's the unusual thing about Girls Aloud - they're the pop group it's ok for grown-ups to like.

The audience at Harewood proved this. Though there was a sprinkling of little ones with mum or dad in tow, most were twenty or even thirtysomethings, mainly female but with a fair number of guys too.

Bang on their advertised stage time of 9pm, the five girls appeared.
Initially dressed in black and white futuristic-style outfits they launched straight into Sexy! No, No, No.

Though the stage set was fairly basic, their energy kept the crowd mesmorised.

As always, each song was accompanied by a step perfect dance routine - some of which were even copied by the enthusiastic fans.

Several tracks from their latest Tangled Up album got an airing, including Control of the Knife and Black Jacks.

But it was the hits which their fans had come to hear, and the girls didn't disappoint.

Later donning glitzy gold dresses, they skipped through Love Machine, Biology and Wake Me Up and cooled down with slowies I'll Stand By You and Whole Lotta History.

Unfortunately the slower numbers highlighted a persistent problem with sound which meant the girls voices often sounded much too quiet.

Not that their fans cared as they were happy enough to scream along with every song.

As well as their own hits, the girls replicated their tour sets with a few covers, firstly an impressively haunting version of Robyn's With Every Heartbeat.

There was a trip back to the 80s with Salt 'n' Pepa's saucy classic Push It and finally the less successful version of Walk This Way, originally recorded with the Sugababes for last year's Comic Relief.

Early on in the show Kimberley Walsh, originally from Bradford, told the adoring crowd this was the closest gig they'd ever done to her home.
"I'm so proud to be from West Yorkshire," she exclaimed, to massive cheers.

And from the reception at Harewood, it seems Yorkshire folk are proud she's one of ours.

For despite the fake tan, the hair extensions, the huge bank balances and the footballer boyfriends, these are just five normal girls.

They get sweaty and towel down in between songs, they joke around, they giggle together and generally have a ball.

Sadly, the show was over all too quickly - just an hour and 20 minutes or so including a single song as an encore.

As the crowd headed back across the fields of Harewood estate, fireworks brightened up the sky behind.

But nothing could match their explosive performance.