MUSIC legend Lonnie Donegan is making a welcome return to the region - and this time it will be a real family affair.

King of skiffle Donegan, still going strong after more than 50 years in the music business, is to perform at the Hardwick Hall Hotel, in Sedgefield, next week.

For the first time he will be joined by his son, Peter.

Speaking from his home in Spain, Donegan told The Northern Echo: "It'll be the first gig that I'm using my son to do the opening act and he's a bit worried about it naturally.

"He plays piano and he sings, and he would have danced, except he's put his back out."

The musician, now in his seventies, was an influential member of the pop music scene in the 1950s and 1960s. Hits included Rock Island Line, Cumberland Gap and My Old Man's A Dustman, and some will be in the concert.

He said: "It won't be all the old favourites. I couldn't get off the stage without doing one or two of the old standards, but I do other things as well."

Donegan has played in the region a number of times over the past 18 months, but he had to play through the pain barrier when he broke his toe before an appearance at the Trimdon Folk Festival, in September 2000.

He said: "Maybe it's a curse because my son's put his back out this time, but the North-East has been very kind to us."

Tickets for the concert, which starts at £8pm on Friday, cost £20 and are available on (01740) 620253.