Madness, Madness, they called them Madness. Out of the schools, pubs and church halls of North London they came in 1978 with a brand of music dubbed the Nutty Sound. Seven in number and strongly rooted in the street culture of Camden Town, they were more like a gang than a pop band. In the Eighties, they became the best-loved British pop act since The Beatles and became the biggest selling singles act of the decade.

Then, when they reformed to play at Finsbury Park in North London in the early Nineties, they caused a minor earthquake. Now they're back with a full UK Arena Tour kicking off in Dublin in December 2003.

Madness have announced a seven-date UK tour for December.

Tickets are available from the 24-hour credit card hotline 0870 400 0688 and online @ www.cclive.co.uk.

Madness last toured in December 2002 and follow on from the success of their stage show 'Our House'. Suggs says: "To those of you that thought the musical 'Our House' would be non-stop all singing and dancing, come and see the real thing, if that's what you want for, forsooth, we are coming to a town near you soon."

The dates are:

December 8 Wembley Arena (0870 739 0739); 11th Sheffield Hallam FM Arena (0114 256 5656); 13th Newcastle Telewest Arena (0870 707 8000); 14th Glasgow SECC (0870 040 4000); 16th Brighton Centre (0870 900 9100); 17th Cardiff Internat-ional Arena (029 2022 4488); 18th Birmingham, NEC (0870 909 4133).

Ticket price £24.50 except Brighton £25.00 and London, £27 (subject to booking fee).

Special guests for the tour are Aswad. After fifteen albums and two decades on the music scene, Aswad remain one of Britain's best-loved reggae bands. Discover more @ www.madness.co.uk

One lucky reader can win a pair of tickets to see Madness at the CIA by simply answering the following question:

Q: When do the tickets go on sale for the seven-date UK tour for December?

Answers to Farhan Mahmood, Madness Competition, South Wales Argus, Cardiff Road, Maesglas, Newport NP20 3QN.

Please include your telephone number.

Closing date: December 5, 2003.