PRETTY Special! That was what fans of The Specials had to say after the Two-Tone icons played a packed Spa on Monday.

A sell-out crowd saw the rude boys return to Bridlington for the first time in nearly 30 years for the second leg of their reunion tour.

People from Bridlington and further afield came kitted out in their Doctor Marten boots, checked shirts and braces for a night when long-time fans relived memories of their youth while others had the chance to fall in love with the music for the first time.

Excitement built in the Spa from the moment well received support act Pama International laid down their guitars and trumpets, reaching a crescendo when the white sheet obscuring the stage fell and the band
everybody had been waiting for emerged to begin their set with the rousing Do the Dog.

All the hits were played, from Concrete Jungle to A Message To You Rudy, but it was the anthemic Too Much Too Young which brought the house down and had more than 3,000 people moonstomping around the dancefloor.

The band returned with an encore of Ghost Town, which sounded as relevant today as it did on its release in 1981, before leaving the stage to rapturous applause.

Guitarist Roddy Byers, better known as Roddy Radiation, told the Free Press: "I had a great night.

"We played Bridlington before many years ago but we don't remember a lot about it, to be honest.

"The Spa looks great, though, and we have a day off tomorrow, so we might get to have a look around the town and maybe have a drink or two."

Fans spilled out on to the street outside the Spa still singing their favourite songs.

Friends Mark Ford-Powell, 42, from Northallerton, and Conrad Scott, 39, from Newcastle, travelled down to the concert as part of Conrad's birthday celebrations.

He said: "I've never seen The Specials, so this was a bit of a dream come true for me.

"I remember there was a gig they played in Leeds when I was 11 that I really wanted to go to, but my dad wouldn't let me.

"Now I've finally got to see them!"