LAST year they appeared as Busted's warm up act but having since emerged as Britain's premier boyband McFly are on their way back to Ipswich's Christchurch Park.

LAST year they appeared as Busted's warm up act but having since emerged as Britain's premier boyband McFly are on their way back to Ipswich's Christchurch Park...as headliners.

The band, who have enjoyed a string of number ones and top ten hits since they burst on to the music scene last year with the infectious Five Colours In Her Hair, have been booked for a one night only appearance in the park on July 29.

McFly - Danny Jones (guitar/vocals), Tom Fletcher (guitar/vocals), Dougie Poynter (bass) and Harry Judd (drums) - are being brought to town by John Hessenthaler Concert Productions who last year brought Busted and Westlife to Christchurch Park and Chantry Park respectively.

And the likelihood is they will be supported by some other big names in pop, who could well follow in their shows and front their own shows in another year. Announcements on other acts on the bill have however yet to be made.

McFly have come along way in the past 12 months.

Until March last year their band name was associated only with the film Back To The Future, but then came Five Colours In Her Hair which spent two weeks at the top of the charts and McFly immediately became synonymous with catchy, melodic, chart-topping pop.

This debut single was followed by a second number one, Obviously, while their debut album, Room On The Third Floor, which also shot to the top spot, put them in the Guinness Book of Records in the process as the youngest ever band to achieve such a feat.

As 2004 progressed, support slots on tour with Busted, including their Ipswich date last summer, were replaced with sell out headlining tours of their own, including a date at Ipswich Regent in October, and slowly McFly found their way to the top of the British pop tree.

And in 2005, things continue to go from strength to strength.

McFly have already won a Brit Award for Best Pop Act and have been filming a movie in Hollywood alongside Lindsay Lohan. They also have a sell out arena tour to look forward to and are the band behind this year's official Comic Relief single. The double A-side, All About You/You've Got A Friend is released on Monday.

Today with both Busted and Blue having fallen by the wayside, McFly seem to be the only boyband that matter. That they're now on their way to Ipswich this summer is therefore great news for the town.

n McFly will perform in Christchurch Park, Ipswich, on July 29. For tickets or more information call 08702 255 163/164/165 or 08700 722 167 or log on to www.nonstopconcerts.com

Weblink: www.mcflyofficial.com