Blur frontman Damon Albarn hailed his band's return to Birmingham NEC at the weekend with news that the Brit Pop band are to retire from touring.

Albarn delivered the message to thousands of fans with aspecial thank you to the region where he said it had allbegun.

He said that Birmingham and Wolverhampton were especially close to his heart and made special mention of the JB's nightclub in Dudley.

He dedicated one of his opening numbers, There's No Other Way, to the crowd and said the club was where it had "all kinda started".

Damon and his band were their usually energetic selves proving they are still amongst the best when it comes to providing value for money and quality at a live gig.

The group took us through their successful career with hits including Boys and Girls and Beatlebum and Sons II as well as new material such as Popscene.

But the biggest reaction came when they struck up with Parklife which rocketed them to chart success.

A capacity crowd greeted every song with enthusiasm.

If this really is the end of the line as far as touring goes there must be thousands of disappointed fans out there.