Adele starts world tour in Belfast

Pop star Adele enjoyed a rapturous reception as she opened her world tour with an intimate arena show in Belfast.

According to BBC News, the star played 18 songs over two hours, in what was her first UK concert in four-and-a-half years.

Dedicated fans had travelled from Japan and South Africa to see her perform, but Adele also had a message for anyone attending under duress.

"I know some of you have been dragged along," she joked, "but I'm going to win you over."

"Although some of my songs get a bit depressing."

By the end of the night, however, even the steeliest of hearts would have been forced to concede she had brought the goods.

Even if they weren't moved by the songs - Set Fire To The Rain, Make You Feel My Love, Rolling In The Deep - there was always Adele's disarming and bawdy humour.

She first addressed the audience 15 minutes into the show, explaining: "They told me not to talk for three songs so my nerves could calm a little."

After that the floodgates opened. She discussed perspiration ("I need to wipe the puddle off me face"); Bob Dylan ("I couldn't understand what he was saying"); and being a working mum ("you should have seen me in the dressing room - I had to do an emergency shave on my legs").