THE organisers of this weekend’s UB40 gig have reassured fans that security has been stepped up following the tragic events in Manchester on Monday night.

Ali Campbell, Astro and Mickey Virtue will be taking to the stage at the Northern Echo Arena on Sunday – the first major act to perform there since Elton John in 2008.

The concert forms part of the group’s Grandslam Tour, which incorporates 12 dates in the UK and sees them visit Coventry the night before their gig in Darlington.

The reggae giants, with classic hits including Red Red Wine and Can’t Help Falling in Love, will be supported by The Original Wailers featuring Al Anderson as well as the up and coming Raging Fyah.

The Mowden Park Rugby Club has undergone a huge transformation since their move to the Arena in 2013, with this concert being two full years in the making.

Danny Brown, Darlington Mowden Park’s events manager, said: “The rebirth of the arena continues to progress. We’ve had some fantastic events over the last four years, including international rugby and the visit of the All Blacks. The next stage in that development is a music event, and we are delighted to be bringing UB40 to the Arena for our first concert.”

And event organisers LHG Live have been working alongside the rugby and emergency services to ensure that the event is as safe as possible for gig-goers with additional checks, including compulsory bag searches.

A spokesman said: “LHG take security very seriously. In consultation with local Safety Advisory Groups and key statutory bodies, including the three blue light services, strict security measures are agreed and implemented across all our concerts and events.

“The terrible events in Manchester only highlight the importance of doing so. Security plans are agreed and endorsed by the police force. These security plans include counter terrorism planning in accordance with the latest government and police advice.”

A Durham Constabulary statement read: “We will also be carrying out reviews of public events due to take place in our area. These measures are not in response to any specific threat but are there to reassure members of the public of the security measures we have in place to help protect you and keep you safe.”

Tickets costing between £35 and £50 are available online from Ticketmaster and pre-booked parking passes are available through the club.