CHART-toppers McFly have joined the pop acts due to perform at Newmarket racecourse this summer.

The Brit award winners are due to play after evening racing at the town's July racecourse on Friday, July 21.

The band, who released last year's Comic Relief single It's All About You, is the latest act to be announced as part of the popular Newmarket Nights series of evening races and pop concerts.

They will join a line-up which already includes Status Quo, Texas, Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra and Westlife.

Gaynor Haxby, marketing manager for Newmarket Racecourses, said: "We are delighted to have secured McFly to join the fantastic 2006 line-up so far."

She said this year's Newmarket Nights were shaping up to be the "biggest and best" ever with the possibility of a record five sell-out nights with a full capacity of 19,000.

"We are hoping for another headline act for the July 28 night. But even without that we hope to appeal to all tastes.

"McFly will obviously appeal to the younger audience. The Quo always go down well here and Jools is having his 10th anniversary this year. Texas will be a more mellow kind of act while Westlife are obviously going to be a sell-out.

"We have sold twice as many tickets as we had this time last year. Tickets are flying out of the door for Westlife and the family enclosure is already sold out for their night on August 18.

"We have already sold 8,000 tickets for that night - half the 16,000 that are on sale."

The opening night, on June 23, is likely to be a tribute act or West End musical-style show.

Young classical star Hayley Westenra will sing at the racecourse with the National Symphony Orchestra on Thursday, July 13 - the middle day of the racecourse's July Festival.

It follows the success of last year's Classic FM Race Day when another popular classical star, Katherine Jenkins, sang with the orchestra. It was the first time a classical concert had been staged after racing.

Tickets can be booked on (01638) 675500 or (08707) 200201 or at the website www.newmarket racecourses.co.uk

info located by Jon Voslo and Roger M