ROCK superstars Coldplay are heading for Bolton this summer, confirming the Reebok Stadium as a top venue for the world's best music acts.

The band, who have sold more than 16 million albums worldwide, will end their series of UK headline shows with two gigs at the 25,000 seat stadium on July 4 and 5.

The move is a major achievement for bosses at the Reebok, who have already signed up the legendary Sir Elton John to play the stadium on June 5 and confirms the venue as a big player on the rock band tour circuit.

"We are delighted to be welcoming one of the biggest bands in music to Bolton," said Reebok Stadium chairman Phil Gartside.

"Coldplay are renowned across the globe as one of the top bands of their generation and this is without doubt another major coup for the Reebok Stadium, which is fast becoming the premier sports and entertainment venue in the country."

Tickets for the Coldplay shows go on sale from March 5, will be priced at £32.50 each and are expected to sell out fast.

The audience will be among the first to hear live songs from the bands new album, a follow up to the multi-awardwinning A Rush of Blood to the Head, which is due to be released within the next few weeks.

Coldplay guitarist Jonny Buckland said they were looking forward to playing live again at the Reebok and the other two gigs they have lined up at the Crystal Palace Athletics Stadium, London on June 27 and 28, and Glasgow's Bellahouston Park on July 1.

"We've spent a long time in the studio and haven't played a gig for 18 months so we can't wait to get out on tour and play our new songs live," said Buckland.

In choosing the Reebok over other larger, local stadia, the group will give Wanderers' coffers a boost and cement the stadium in Horwich as a major music contender.

Last summer the Reebok hosted a series of smaller concerts over six nights at the Reebok, featuring acts such as the Sugababes, Jools Holland and Michael Ball.

But the stadium had appeared to have been overlooked by promoters of big rock concerts in recent years as the last super group to opt for the Wanderers' home was Oasis back in 2000, when Noel and Liam Gallagher lit up the stage over two nights.

The Elton John and Coldplay announcements have changed that.

The cash generated from such shows will help to give Wanderers boss Sam Allardyce a war chest to buy players and help secure the Whites' long-term stay in the Premiership.

Coldplay is one of the hottest acts around with frontman Chris Martin frequently in the news, not least because he is married to Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow, with whom he has a baby girl, Apple, born last year.

The band formed at University College, London, and in 2000 they were nominated for the Mercury Prize, pipped to the post by Bolton's Badly Drawn Boy.

Debut album Parachutes was acclaimed an instant classic with singles including Yellow soaring to the top of the charts.

Follow-up album, A Rush of Blood To The Head, cemented the bands reputation and they have been often compared to stalwarts Radiohead.

This summer promises to be a busy one for music fans in Greater Manchester.

Aside from the Sir Elton and Coldplay concerts at the Reebok, American rockers REM will play before 50,000 people at Old Trafford Cricket Club and 48,000 will pack into the City of Manchester Stadium for a series of Oasis gigs.

Tickets for the Coldplay concerts are available from the 24 credit card hotline 0871 220 0260 from Saturday 5 March, but from Thursday 3rd there will be a presale of tickets to registered fans at www.coldplay.com.

There will also be over the counter sales from the Reebok Stadium box office, but tickets cannot be purchased over the phone from the Bolton Wanderers Football Club.