PAUL Heaton and Jacqui Abbott are heading to Delamere Forest next summer as part of the Forestry Commission's series of gigs.

The pair will be joined by special guest Billy Bragg on Friday, June 8, during the Forest Live season.

Paul is one of the UK's most successful songwriters, with 10 million album sales under his belt.

He first came to public attention in the early 1980s as front man of Hull-based indie poppers The Housemartins, best known for Happy Hour and cover of Caravan of Love.

He formed The Beautiful South in 1988, which St Helens singer Jacqui Abbott joined as lead vocalist six years later.

Together they enjoyed success with a string of hits, including Rotterdam, Perfect 10, Don't Marry Her and Dream A Little Dream.

Paul and Jacqui's latest album Crooked Calypso charted at number two, making it their highest release as a duo to date following What Have We Become in 2014 and Wisdom, Laughter and Lines in 2015, which both hit the top five.

The Forest Live gig will see them play material from their recent albums as a duo, and songs from The Beautiful South and The Housemartins.

Tickets cost £33.50 plus £3.85 booking fee, and are available from 9am on Friday, October 20 from the Forestry Commission box office at forestry.gov.uk/music or by calling 03000 680400.