ONE of the town's best known singers Jacqui Abbott is to embark on a major UK tour with former Beautiful South frontman Paul Heaton.

Jacqui was the female singer for the Beautiful South from 1994 to 2000, when the band released a series of critically-acclaimed records that catapulted her to fame.

Alongside Paul, Jacqui is set to embark on the nationwide tour in March 2016, ending with a show at the Royal Albert Hall and including dates at Manchester's O2 Apollo and Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.

Jacqui first rose to fame around 20 years ago when she joined the band after a chance encounter with singer-songwriter Paul.

Her tenure with the band coincided with their most successful period, scoring top 10 hits with Rotterdam, Perfect 10 and Don't Marry Her.

Jacqui quit the group in 2000 to spend more time with her son, who has autism.

She reunited with Heaton last year, the pair releasing the album 'What Have We Become', and performing a series of gigs at small venues.

In the forthcoming tour of larger venues across the country, Jacqui and Paul will perform songs from their new album 'Wisdom, Laughter and Lines', their new album and second since the comeback.

Wisdom, Laughter and Lines is described as "full of wit and humour, whilst retaining a strong social conscience that touches on the changing social landscape of Britain".

Tickets, which go on sale on October 9 at 10am, will be available via gigsandtours.com on 0844 811 0051 or ticketmaster.co.uk on 0844 826 2826.