After three decades, pop/soul band Simply Red are holding back the years with an anniversary world tour which includes two Greenwich shows in December next year.

The band, who burst onto the scene in 1985 will celebrate 30 years in the business with a fairground ride through all of their hits at the O2 arena on December 17 and 18.

Tickets go on sale at 8am on Friday (November 7) at axs.com or on 08448 244824.

It will be five years since the group – who sold 60 million albums worldwide - ended an unbroken 25 year run at the O2.

Front man Mick Hucknall said: “I like an anniversary, and this is the big one. It feels like the right time.”