BRITAIN'S best-known reggae band UB40 are celebrating their 40th anniversary with a UK tour, which calls into Cumbria next spring.

Birmingham’s world-famous chart stars UB40 have announced a massive run of shows for 2019, including a date at the Sands Centre, in Carlisle, on Monday April 29.

Featuring the band's five founding members Robin Campbell, Brian Travers, Jimmy Brown, Earl Falconer and Norman Hassan, and long-time members Duncan Campbell, Martin Meredith, Lawrence Parry and Tony Mullings, the band will embark on their 40-date tour where fans can expect to hear UB40’s greatest hits.

Memorable numbers such as Food For Thought, One In Ten, Kingston Town, (I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You and Red, Red Wine are all likely to be included, amongst many others.

This will be UB40's first appearance at the Sands Centre since their show at the start of October 2016.

Naming themselves after the unemployment benefit form, UB40 formed in 1978, before releasing their debut album, Signing Off, in August 1980, considered by many to be one of the greatest reggae albums ever released by a British band.

It was the start of a career that has seen the band have more than 40 UK Top 40 hit singles and achieve sales of over 100 million records, making UB40 one of the most successful British groups of all time.

Original vocalist Ali Campbell left the band in 2008 to be replaced by his brother, Duncan. Alongside the other UB40 vocalists he has made his presence count on the covers album Labour of Love IV, and 2013's studio effort, Getting Over the Storm, which received widespread acclaim on its release that year.

Tickets for the show are available from the Sands Centre box office now.