LIVE: Ed Sheeran at Etihad Stadium as fans gather ahead of the first of four huge shows

Pop sensation Ed Sheeran is beginning a four-night stint of gigs at Manchester City's Etihad Stadium tonight.

Guitar-playing singer-songwriter Ed, who has now had hits around the world, will perform to nearly a quarter of a million fans over the course of four shows.

Around 60,000 fans will pack into the east Manchester home of the Premier League Champions for as he brings his Mathematics tour, which has been winning rave reviews, to the city.

READ MORE: Ed Sheeran in Manchester times, support, set list, parking, road closures at Etihad Stadium

He has already played to record-breaking crowds at Cardiff's Principality Stadium and Sunderland's Stadium of Light.

Doors at tonight's show open at 4pm with the entertainment beginning at 6pm. However, a number of excited fans are already starting to queue in order to try and secure themselves a prime spot in front of the stage.

The Suffolk-born star, whose hits include The Shape of You, Castle on the Hill and Photograph, has previously played at the stadium, in May 2018, as part of his record-breaking Divide Tour.

His gigs kick-off a massive weekend of live music in Manchester with Parklife festival taking place on Saturday and Sunday with The Killers playing Emirates Old Trafford and Alicia Keys playing the AO Arena on Saturday.

We'll have updates from in and around the Etihad throughout the course of the afternoon and evening

Tonight's show is the first of FOUR headline gigs by Ed at the Etihad with shows also taking place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It's part of his tour + - = ÷ x Tour - (pronounced the Mathematics Tour) which has already seen him play to record crowds in Cardiff and Sunderland.

You can read Dianne Bourne's comprehensive gig guide with information on