AMY Winehouse and the Verve lead the swathe of acts announced for this year's V Festival.

The popular festival, now in its 13th year, is aiming to satisfy a plethora of musical desires, with liberal smatterings of indie, rock, pop, jazz and dance.

Alongside the likes of Amy Winehouse - who was expected to perform at the Chelmsford festival last year, but pulled out citing "health reasons" - are former Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown, indie rockers Kaiser Chiefs, Kings of Leon, Stereophonics and home-grown Essex dance veterans the Prodigy.

The announcement of more acts follows the news two weeks ago that indie darlings Muse, named best live act this year by NME, will headline with their only European festival performance this summer.

The two-day event will take place on August 16 and 17 at Hylands Park, Chelmsford, and Weston Park, Staffordshire.

Festival director Bob Angus said: "We're really proud of the V Festival line-up this year.

"A European exclusive performance by Muse and some truly fantastic established live acts, mixed with some exciting newcomers, will result in a cracking weekend - something to get every fan on their feet!"

Other acts on this year's bill include Lenny Kravitz, Maximo Park, the Charlatans, the Hoosiers and current chart topper Duffy.

Alanis Morissette, Travis, Amy MacDonald and pop princesses Sugababes and Girls Aloud are also set to perform, alongside other indie bands like Scouting for Girls and the Pigeon Detectives.

Day and weekend tickets for the festival go on sale on Friday, March 7, at 10am.

Call the Echo's Reader Travel hotline on 01268 270027 for tickets, from 10am Friday.