Osmond mania lives on!

They may have called it Puppy Love – but decades later Osmond mania is as strong as ever if the thousands of screaming fans who packed into Birmingham's NEC are anything to go by.

As soon as Donny Osmond burst on to stage in an outfit showing a physique that belies his near 50 years of age, screaming women were hurling themselves at the stage.

And of all the fans who packed out the venue on Saturday night, the loudest screams were emanating from the centre of the fourth row, where members of a Walsall-based Osmonds' fan club had staked their place.

The leader of the pack, Great Wyrley mother-of-four Linda Taylor, aged 44, admits that she is obsessed with Donny and his family, following them throughout the country and beyond.

Linda has just attended the Osmonds' 50th anniversary in showbusiness concert in Las Vegas and one of her most treasured possessions is a photograph of her and her idol when she first met him in 2003.

She was on tenterhooks for days before the concert on Saturday, and had been at the NEC since 3pm that day with her friends to try to catch a glimpse of Donny arriving for the show.

She said: "It was an amazing night. We had such a wonderful time and Donny was just fantastic.

"I went to see him in Nottingham last week and I have tickets for Sheffield. I just can't get enough of him.

"Every time is different and he always puts on an amazing show. He really puts his heart into everything.

Gornal housewife Sandra Spittal was lucky enough to get a kiss from her idol after he went walkabout at the NEC.

She said:" I can't believe I got to kiss him. I won't wash my cheek for a week."

Liz Cyster, 49, of Brownhills, said it was an amazing night from start to finish.

She said: "Oh my God, how does he do it? He always looks so amazing. He is a real showman and performer."

The entire Osmond family is back at the NEC next May when they will be performing in their 50th anniversary tour. Alan, Wayne, Merril, Jay, Donny, Jimmy and Marie will all be taking to the stage. During the early to mid seventies Osmondmania rivalled Beatlemania.

Fans chased the band everywhere, and sometimes they were forced to lock themselves up in their hotel rooms and have police escorts for their own safety.

Donny became the unequivocal star of the group, the one who sang the solos and elicited the biggest screams. He has recently released his 55th album.

Sister Marie has been on America's version of Strictly Come Dancing and Jimmy starred in I'm A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out Of Here!

A huge Osmonds' fans' night is being held at the Village Hotel off Junction 10 of the M6 in Walsall on November 10. A few places are still left for the celebration priced at £25.

Fans are hoping to secure a phone call with Donny Osmond himself as at previous gatherings his brothers have done the honours.

Anyone who is interested in buying tickets should ring Linda Taylor on 07962 146864.