The original Specials line up have reformed and will embark on a UK tour to this autumn, according to singer Terry Hall.

"We've been trying to do it for five years, but we solved those problems and hopefully got over them," Hall told Billboard.

"Seven 50-year-old men together in a room is not very pleasant, no matter who you are. But we're getting on great and that's all you can hope for, really."

The ska band, whose hits include ‘Ghost Town’, are expected to start touring in October following a block of rehearsals in July.

"We're going to play just the first and second album," Hall said, talking about the shows.

"The first album probably in full and half of the second one. That's all we want to do - just get together and play the songs once more."

Hall said the band, who split in 1981, would restrict the shows to theatre-sized venues because arenas are “soulless”.

“The very nature of this band, we shouldn't go and play sit-down theatres. It would just be weird. I think we should carry on where we left off," he added.

(by Jason Gregory)