CHARLIE'S coming home…and he's bringing Busted with him.With mounting speculation about the possibility of a homecoming gig by Charlie Simpson and his chart-topping band Busted the Evening Star can today announce they are set to perform in Ipswich in the summer.

CHARLIE'S coming home…and he's bringing Busted with him.

With mounting speculation about the possibility of a homecoming gig by Charlie Simpson and his chart-topping band Busted the Evening Star can today announce they are set to perform in Ipswich in the summer.

Charlie, who comes from Woodbridge, will be joined by bandmates James Bourne and Matt Jay performing a live open-air concert in Christchurch Park on July 16.

Further details have still to be announced but tickets for the Evening Star-sponsored concert, which is being promoted by John Hessenthaler Concert Promotions, will go on sale on December 1.

Confirmation of the gig is set to come as great news not just for the band's many fans in the region but for 18-year-old Charlie himself. The former Framlingham College pupil had been left disappointed when a gig at Ipswich Regent was taken off their recent UK tour and had regularly voiced his desire to play on home turf.

When recently talking of the possibility of a gig in Christchurch Park, he said: "That would be a real homecoming for me and I hope it can be sorted out. It would be fantastic."

News of July's concert tops off a fantastic year for Busted who have been enjoying constant success, including number one singles, a sell-out tour and an album that has been beaten in sales only by Coldplay.

Their latest single, Crashed The Wedding, was released this week and looks set to beat Britney Spears and Madonna to the number one spot in the single's chart.

Meanwhile their second album, A Present For Everyone, is released on Monday and promises to match the success of the debut which sold more than a million copies.

n Busted will play Christchurch Park on July 16 next year. Tickets for the concert will go on sale on December 1. The Evening Star will announce details of how to get hold of tickets nearer that date.

n Busted's latest single Crashed The Wedding is out now and their second album A Present For Everyone is released on Monday.