THE North-East went crazy when Girls Aloud made a welcome return to the region with their Out of Control Tour this week.

The fab five arguably performed their best show yet to a packed house, where the baying crowd was literally bouncing, and on their feet all night.

In a one hour and 40-minute energy-filled set, where screaming fans cheered and clapped every time Geordie girl Cheryl Cole opened her mouth, the girls put on a stunning and flawless show, amid fireworks, glitter and a platform that transported them across the arena to a second stage towards the back.

Singing all their old favourites, along with the new tracks from their Out of Control album, they barely stopped to take a breath, and performing covers of Britney Spears’ Womaniser, the Pointer Sisters’ Jump and James Morrison’s Broken Strings added further spice.

The girls looked stunning in every costume change and their semi-clad male backing dancers weren’t bad either.

Their energy levels didn’t waiver in the highly choreographed extravaganza that was so high-powered, even the audience was feeling exhausted by the end.

It was clearly an emotional homecoming for Cheryl, who repeatedly talked of her love for the area and whose family was in the audience, but it was quite an emotional night for the rest of us, too.

A ten out of ten to the girls – one of the best shows I have ever seen.

If you haven’t seen them yet, get tickets if you can when they return to the Arena on June 5 and 6.

■ Tickets: £30. Box office: 0844-493-6666