'ERE, BONO, I STILL HAVEN'T FOUND WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR; 180 lorries of gear, a 40-tonne stage to build and the gig's tonight...: is it any wonder that the supergroup's roadies are looking busy.

Byline: Tim Lewis 

AN ARMY of workers spent long into the night putting the final touches to the Millennium Stadium as U2 fans descended on Cardiff.

Tonight's gig could be the biggest ever to be held at the stadium with as many as 70,000 fans expected through the gates.

More than pounds 20m has been spent on the iconic 360 stage which last night was still being built on the stadium floor where the pitch had been removed.

The gigantic 400-tonne structure needed 180 trucks to bring in it to the city and - when fully erected - will be the biggest set ever housed inside the stadium.

Expectant fans gathered to get a first glimpse of the stadium yesterday evening with many travelling from across the UK and from further afield.

Soldiers John Skelton, 38, and Alan Hughes, 37, have travelled to Cardiff with their partners while on leave from the Army and are staying at the barracks at Maindy.

Mr Skelton said: "We were quite lucky that someone we knew had spare tickets so we thought it was too good an opportunity to miss.

"They might never do an-othetour so this could be our only chance to see them.

"I've been to Cardiff many times before but this will be the first time I've been to the stadium, I'm looking forward to it."

Mr Hughes added: "This is my first time in Cardiff and my first impressions are that it's really nice.

"We're big fans of U2 so this is a really nice way to spend our time on leave."

If the crowd at tonight's gig passes the 70,000 mark it will surpass other giants of music who have played at the stadium over the last few years including Madonna, Take That, Oasis and the Rolling Stones.

Steff Zelynszyj, from Nottingham, had flown to Cardiff from a holiday in Greece with his family for the gig.

He said: "My wife and I first went to see them in 1982 and I went to see them for three nights in Dublin earlier this year.

"They continue to make outstanding music and they are a fantastic live band. The show is really spectacular and even though I've seen it before I look forward to the next gig.

"We've brought my son along for his first gig and he's started to learn all the words to all the songs. He even listens to U2 every night before bed now."

His son Alex, aged seven, said: "I really love the music and my favourite songs are Elevation and Sunday Bloody Sunday.

"The Millennium Stadium looks good and I can't wait for the gig."

This will be U2's first gig in Cardiff since the Vertigo tour in 2005 and is part of their 15-stop European Tour that includes Dublin and the 95,000-capacity Stade de France in Paris.

Graeme Harland, 29, from Brighton, has been a fan of U2 for the last six years.

He said: "This will be the third time I have seen them on this tour.

"I go to see a lot of live music and U2 are the best live band in the world. The atmosphere at the gigs is unbelievable.

"Other bands who have been around as long as them just play the greatest hits but U2 keep coming back with better albums."

CAPTION(S):

The stage being set up ahead of the U2 show at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and right, how it all looks when finished The massive workforce setting up the stage Bono, left, and Adam Clayton of U2 performing at Wembley Stadium last week