Take That thrill NEC fans

Comeback kings Take That kicked off the UK leg of their Beautiful World tour in Birmingham to thousands of excited fans of all ages who screamed, sang and danced the night away.

Dressed to the nines and armed with home-made banners declaring undying love for Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Howard Donald and Jason Orange, the fans had a 'wail' of a time as the band make a welcome return to the NEC.

The standard of novelty dress was set by women in fur-trimmed cowgirl hats and personalised t-shirts and there was more than one brightly coloured banner politely requesting that Gary wears tighter trousers next time. Among those cheering the fab four last night was Carmela Barbetta, aged 29, of Fordhouses, Wolverhampton. She said: "I'm a big fan and I think I'm most looking forward to hearing the old songs. Never Forget is a favourite of mine."

Pal Debbie Butters, 29, of Telford, said she had barely slept a wink the night before.

"I've seen them quite a few times and I've been looking forward to tonight for some time."

Sisters Emma and Sarah Scrivens, aged 30 and 27, and friend Carolyn Blaney, 27, all of Tamworth, have been TT fans since day one with each having their favourite - Gary, Jason and ex-member Robbie Williams respectively. Emma said: "We looked a bit different last time around – we were younger!" The sellout show was performed in front of a mixed audience, of grandmothers, couples, groups of friends, children and families.

The arena roof was raised by the 14,000-odd fans who knew all the words and delighted in singing along with the boys from the north west who still rocked the NEC some 16 years after forming Take That.

As for the show itself. There were shooting flames, sexy dancers, new hits and old favourites but most importantly there was the fab four.

Take That just get better with age.

New album Beautiful World, released last year, became the second biggest selling album of 2006 and the biggest selling Take That album in history. Last night the boys performed a mix of the songs that made them famous and tracks off the latest release which was apt as the audience was as varied as the repertoire.

Original fans who went through their teenage years dancing to Take That and Party sang their hearts out alongside new supporters enjoying the fun the second time around.

The foursome opened the show with Reach Out before launching into a raunchy rendition of It Only Takes A Minute.

Outfits were dashing on one hand, fashionable waist coats and long, masculine coats and fun and silly and on the other – black hoodies with fluorescent flashes.

The boys clearly believe in sticking to a winning formula as the dance routines were wonderfully 90s. Jason did a lovely job of singing Wooden Boat on his own and told the audience it was his first solo effort on home soil. They ended with the chart topper Pray and it brought the house down.

By Fiona McCartney.