Leona's joy at home crowd show (From Braintree and Witham Times)

Leona's joy at home crowd show

6:46pm Saturday 23rd June 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

Singer Leona Lewis has spoken of her pride at performing on home ground to open Radio 1's Hackney Weekend.

The 27-year-old showed off her flower power in a floral kimono, black crop top and black trousers, as she took to the main stage at Hackney Marshes in east London as part of the BBC's biggest free live event.

The X Factor winner said backstage: "I really wanted to open when they asked me to do it. When I went on I saw 30,000 people running towards the stage. It was lovely performing in front of a home crowd. It was good, I swear half the audience was my friends and family."

About 100,000 are expected to attend the concert over the weekend, with 50,000 there today. In excess of 250,000 people applied for tickets for the two-day festival, with most reserved for people from the neighbouring Olympic boroughs.

Bleeding Love singer Lewis, who won the X Factor in 2006, was introduced to the stage by DJ Trevor Nelson as "the most famous singer to come out from Hackney".

Singing from a microphone covered with synthetic flowers, Lewis's first track was the aptly-titled Coming Home, originally sung by Diddy Dirty Money, which featured a guest appearance from rapper Wretch 32.

Pop singer Rita Ora wowed the audience when she took to the stage later, wearing a matching printed shirt and trouser outfit that resembled a pair of white pyjamas. Other acts to perform to the crowd included Rizzle Kicks, N-Dubz's Dappy, Michael Kiwanuka, Ed Sheeran and Example. Tomorrow's biggest headliner is Rihanna.

Revellers' spirits weren't dampened by the rain showers throughout the afternoon, though some took the opportunity to shelter in the site's marquees.

Organisers have been working closely with police to ensure safety at the show, part of the London 2012 Festival which kicked off this week. The site is surrounded by two rings of security barriers, one of which is 12ft (3.7m) high and more than 1,200 security staff will be on hand.

Hackney Weekend - taking place over the weekend usually occupied by Glastonbury Festival, which is resting this year - is being broadcast by Radio 1 and screened on BBC3.