Heading to V Festival today, here’s something to think about - a new study shows one in six festival-goers will damage their phones, with the cost estimated to be £496million.

East Anglian Daily Times: Beyonce is headlining the Virgin Media Stage tomorrowBeyonce is headlining the Virgin Media Stage tomorrow (Image: Archant)

Research by SquareTrade, creators of the Smart Protection Plan, shows one in six of thost heading to festivals will have their mobile phone, tablet or laptop damaged while celebrating.

East Anglian Daily Times: Kings of Leon headline the Virgin Media Stage Sunday. Photo: Dean Chalkley/Uncut/IPC + SyndicationKings of Leon headline the Virgin Media Stage Sunday. Photo: Dean Chalkley/Uncut/IPC + Syndication (Image: ©DeanChalkley/ipc media/Uncut)

With the average uninsured mobile handset costing £430 to replace, Brits will spend an additional £496m during the season on replacement phones alone.

The worst culprit is Glastonbury (£8,707,500), closely followed by Creamfields (£7,740,000), Download (£7,095,000), V Festival (£5,805,000), taking place this weekend at Hylands Park; Reading (£5,805,000), Isle of Wight (£5,850,000), T in the Park (£5,482,500), Leeds (£5,160,000), Hard Rock Calling (£5,160,000) and Wireless (£5,160,000).

“With more ways than ever to share unforgettable moments with family and friends via your mobile phone, it comes as no surprise that festival goers are prone to mishaps. What does come a surprise, however, is the hit to the nation’s pocket because of this,” says Kevin Gillan, managing director of Europe at SquareTrade.

Keen to help, SquareTrade has the following tips to ensure a disaster free festival: Never use your phone in the middle of a moshpit, try keeping it in a ziplocked bag when not in use to keep it dry (good idea looking out the window right now), don’t use or take your phone while using the portalble toilets, especially towards the end of the festival and don’t drink and tweet, nobody wants to lose their phone in a pint.

The main arena opens at noon tomorrow and Sunday with bands finishing at 11pm. Once the arena is closed campers can stay in The Village throughout the night. Films will be shown in The Arena Stage tonight and tommorow. Some food and drink stalls and fun fair rides will stay open.

Campsites open today and close on Monday at noon.

Aside from your tickets and information booklet (duh), bring ID if you look under 16 like me (I wish), some money (there are cash machines on site), a plastic container to carry water, plus sensible clothing and shoes (I nearly froze to death after taking just a skimpy jumper my first year).

Don’t bring air horns (they’re annoying so banned), fireworks, candles, glass containers or Chinese style lanterns.

The Arena Stage, Undercover from Virgin Media and other tented structures have a set capacity so if there’s a particular act you want to see check what time they’re on and get there early.

If it’s your first time, Hylands Park is in Writtle, two miles outside Chelmsford on the A414.

If you are arriving on foot, follow the signs from Chelmsford to the V Festival site and use gate six or one unless you’re camping in Yellow campsite, then follow the signs worded Yellow from Gate 1.

You can get to the site by coach with Big Green Coach, National Express or See Coaches; by air with Fresh Air, the official helicopter and heliport provider and by train - visit www.nationalrail.co.uk and www.greateranglia.co.uk for times.

The best way to get to Hylands Park from the train station and vice versa is the V Festival shuttle bus run by First Buses Essex Ltd. Buses run from Coval Lane, so exit the front of the rail station and turn left info Fairfield Road.

They run from Chelmsford to V Festival from 8.30am-7pm tonight and 9.30am-7pm tomorrow and Sunday. They return to Chelmsford from 7pm-1am Saturday and Sunday and 6am-noon on Monday.

If you’re coming by car follow the A12 to Chelmsford. At Chelmsford, exit the A12 to the festival site along the A414. Once on the A414 be sure to check the signs and follow the appropriate directions.

Playing on the Virgin Media Stage on Saturday are Beyonce, The Script, Jessie J, Two Door Cinema Club, Paloma Faith, James, Deacon Blue (coming to Norwich next month, read my interview with Ricky Ross here soon) and The Fratellis. On the 4Music Stage are Steve Angello, The Courteeners, Fun, Labrinth, Of Monsters and Men, Maverick Sabre, James Arthur, Lissie, Conor Maynard and The Pigeon Detectives. On the Arena Stage are Ocean Colour Scene, DJ Fresh/Live, Travis, Mark Owen, Katy B, Jessie Ware, Netsky Live, Gabrielle Aplin, Idris Alba, Nina Nesbitt and K-Koke. On the Futures Stage are Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Monsta, Misha B, Hoffmaestro, Sam Smith, Tori Kelly, A*M*E, Goldie Lookin Chain, Nell Bryden, Ed Drewett, Moya, Silhouette and Vox Empire.

Playing the Virgin Media Stage on Sunday are Kings of Leon, Stereophonics, Emelie Sande, The Vaccines, Olly Murs, Jason Mraz, Scouting for Girls and The Saturdays. On the 4Music Stage are Calvin Harris, Rita Ora, Kendrick Lamar, Maximo Park, Rudimental, Seasick Steve, Tom Odell, The Heavy and Lawson. On the Arena Stage are Basement Jaxx, Jaguar Skills, Ellie Goulding, Eels, Lianne La Havas, McFly (read my interview with Danny Jones, online now), Everything Everything, Laura Mvula, John Newman, 5ive (read my interview with Scott and Abz online now) and The Original Rudeboys. On the Futures Stage are Jamie Cullum, Naughty Boy, Lewis Watson, The Skints, Lucy Spraggan, Diana Vickers, James Skelly and The Intenders and Exit Calm.

It’s not all about the music. There’s also the Glee Comedy Club stage.

Appearing Saturday are Eddie Izzard, Josh Widdicombe, Shappi Khorsandi, Katherine Ryan, Andrew Bird, Dave Fulton, Eddy Brimson, Danny Slim Gray, Suzi Ruffell, Andrew Ryan, Nathan Caton, Justin Moorhouse and emcee Mark Olver. On Sunday are Jon Richardson, Paul Chowdhry, Rob Beckett, Andrew O’Neill, Ricky Grover, Iman Yusuf, Joel Dommett, Mark Simmons, Elis James, Fredrik Andersson, Pete Johansson, Angela Barnes and emcee Kevin McCarthy.

Going to V Festival, don’t forget to share your stories and pictures at www.iwitness24.co.uk