Download Festival closes with Aerosmith

Ben Gibson / Download 2017 Aerosmith at Download 2017Ben Gibson / Download 2017
Rock legends Aerosmith closed the festival on Sunday

Download, the "biggest and friendliest" rock festival in the world, has ended with a performance by legendary American rockers Aerosmith.

The festival, held at Donington Park in Leicestershire since 2003, has hosted some of the biggest names in rock including Iron Maiden and Motörhead.

Download organiser Andy Copping said Donington was the "spiritual home" of rock.

The festival saw extra security following the recent terror attacks.

Ben Gibson / Download 2017 Aerosmith Download 2017Ben Gibson / Download 2017
Steven Tyler belted out the Aerosmith hits
Caitlin Mogridge / Download 2017 Fans watching a band at DownloadCaitlin Mogridge / Download 2017
About 80,000 rock music fans attended the festival over three days

Armed officers patrolled the site but Leicestershire Police and festival organisers were determined it would not affect Download's famous "friendly" atmosphere.

Paulo Gonçalves / Download 2017 Fans pose for the camera at DownloadPaulo Gonçalves / Download 2017
The festival attracts rock music fans from all over the world
Ben Gibson / Download 2017 Rob ZombieBen Gibson / Download 2017
Rob Zombie performed on Saturday night

It led to the force using the hashtag "copaselfie" - an attempt to get revellers to engage with officers by taking selfies with them.

Ben Gibson / Download 2017 Every Time I DieBen Gibson / Download 2017
American metalcore band Every Time I Die took the stage on Saturday
Ben Gibson / Download 2017 Police at DownloadBen Gibson / Download 2017
Police officers posed for photos with festival fans

Supt Martyn Ball, from Leicestershire Police, said armed police were there to make people "safe and secure" following the recent attacks in Manchester and London.

Matt Eachus / Download 2017 Biffy ClyroMatt Eachus / Download 2017
Biffy Clyro headlined the main stage on Saturday evening

Mr Copping, one of the founders of Download, said the festival is one of the UK's "friendliest" but also the "biggest" of its type in the world.

He told the BBC that fans treat it as their holiday.

Ben Gibson / Download 2017 Download mascotBen Gibson / Download 2017
The Download Dog enjoyed himself too . . .
Caitlin Mogridge / Download 2017 System of a Down at DownloadCaitlin Mogridge / Download 2017
System of a Down rock the main stage

About 80,000 people attended the festival over the weekend which saw performances from System of a Down, Every Time I Die, Rob Zombie, Biffy Clyro and Aerosmith.

The American rockers made Download their "swansong" in the UK, according to Mr Copping.

Sarah Koury / Download 2017 Fans at DownloadSarah Koury / Download 2017
Organisers said Download has a friendly and welcoming atmosphere