LEGENDARY 1950s singer and bird impressionist Ronnie Ronalde will visit the North-East on his national tour.

He will be playing the Customs House, South Shields, South Tyneside, next Wednesday.

Ronnie, one of the world's top variety entertainers, is returning to Britain from his adopted home of New Zealand to celebrate his 80th birthday and 65th year in showbusiness.

Ronnie's talents include singing, whistling, yodelling and bird impressions.

His popularity was reflected by the success of his biography, Around the World on a Whistle, which was a big international seller.

The Customs House matinee show, An Evening With Ronnie Ronalde: Around The World on a Whistle, will feature his biggest hits, If I Were a Blackbird and In a Monastery Garden, together with stories from his life and career with stars such as Laurel and Hardy, Duke Ellington, Ginger Rodgers and Josef Locke.

Customs House marketing manager Robin Byers said: "It will be fantastic to welcome Ronnie Ronalde to the Customs House. He really is a living legend.

"He's worked with people ranging from Peter Sellars and Harry Secombe to Julie Andrews."

The show starts at 2.30pm. Tickets cost £10, concessions £8, and are available from the box office on 0191-454 1234.