ICONIC British reggae band UB40 will be coming to Burnley to play at the UCLan campus later this year.

Organisers said the group would help launch the venue on an ‘international level’.

The move comes after the first attempt to attract a big-name band to the Princess Way campus ended in disappointment with Lawson twice pulling out due to illness before the event was cancelled.

Event organiser Steve Reid said: “We are really happy to announce one of the biggest bands in the world coming to Burnley.

“After the disappointment of Lawson’s illness and unavailability to play in May, getting a band of this stature into Burnley totally launches the venue on an international level.

“The concert is open to all; the venue is perfect with excellent parking, food and drink available throughout the night. This is a wonderful chance to see the band ‘up close’ rather than in an arena, and listen to some of the greatest hits of all time.”

The Burnley date will be included in UB40’s second UK tour of the year, in October and November, following a sell-out tour earlier this year.

UB40 have sold more than 100million records worldwide and their hit records include Red, Red Wine and Can’t Help Falling In Love.

The band features most of the original members, although Ali Campbell, Mickey Virtue and Astro left in 2008 and have since set up rival band UB40 Reunited.

Sax player Brian Travers said: “Playing numerous intimate venues is a much more enjoyable experience for both our audience and the band, compared to playing a handful of enormodomes with the audience stuck 30 feet away behind a safety barrier.

“On behalf of UB40, we can’t wait to get back on the road in the UK in October and November and catch up from where we left off, playing in towns and cities UB40 haven’t had the opportunity to perform in before, and also get back to some of the places where we started our wonderful life in music.”

UB40 will be playing at the UCLan campus on Saturday, November 22, from 7pm. Tickets priced £26 are available from ticketline.co.uk