Many students and other people are heading to the V Festival with their sleeping bags and tents this weekend, but other events such as the Green Man are increasingly popular, a survey has suggested.

Insurer Endsleigh said 22 per cent of students are going to a festival this summer, with many finding the smaller "independent, boutique" festivals preferable to the big events.

The poll found the most popular of these smaller festivals were Green Man and Bestioval, each of which will be attended by seven per cent of respondents.

Communications manager at Endlesigh Vicki O'Connell remarked: "In recent years we have seen festivals diversify greatly; there are now hundreds of different types of event, both commercial and independent, that offer a lot more than just music."

The firm's research also found fans will take valuables worth over £800 to festivals, such as mobile phones and digital cameras, which prompted it to advise them to make sure they are well insured.

Australian musical comedian Tim Minchin is performing at the Green Man Festival site in the Brecon Beacons tonight (August 8th), as a prelude to the official start and a treat for early arrivals.