THE first gig in years at a university looks likely to sell out this week, and a second has been arranged.

Durham Student Union's Dunelm House once played host to scores of top-name bands, but has not staged any gigs, except student-only events, for years.

Punk pioneers The Damned will be at the 700-capacity venue on Saturday, May 7, at 7.30pm, in the first of what could be a series of gigs there that are open to the public.

Tickets went on sale last month and only 50 of the 700 are left.

Promoter Jon Connor said: "The response from Durham has been incredible and people are coming from all over.

"We have got people flying over from Sweden who are big Damned fans and there are people coming up from London, Liverpool and Nottingham.

"We are really pleased with how it has gone and I think there will be some disappointed people who cannot get tickets. We could have sold this show twice over.''

A gig featuring The Buzzcocks and The Lurkers, will be held at the venue on Sunday, May 29. Doors open at 7.15pm.

Mr Connor said he was delighted to get The Buzzcocks, another influential band of the punk and new wave scene of the late 1970s.

"I would expect the response to that gig to be just as strong. They are a top band.''

Tickets for that gig will go on sale on Friday and will cost £15 or £14.50 for students. Tickets for The Damned cost £16.50 or £15.50 for students.

All tickets are available from the record shop Concepts, North Road, Durham, 0191-383 0745.