BRITAIN'S coolest pop duo lit a fire to warm a rain-soaked Nynex Arena audience last night.

Flanked by a huge steel pylons and a video backdrop showing scenes of the north's industrial skyline, the Lighthouse Family pounded through its unique repertoire of soul and rhythm and blues numbers with a stylish delivery their fans have come to expect.

It was a special night for chart-toppers Paul Tucker and Tunde Baiyewu. Tucker broke away from his keyboard to raise a glass to the 15,000-strong crowd, telling them that their latest album Postcards from Heaven had sold its millionth copy.

Vocalist Tunde had barely completed the third of his rasping melodies when the audience followed the group's advice to "have a party" and abandoned their seats to dance in the aisles.

Tunde joined in, shedding his immaculate suit jacket and dancing along to the delight of fans.

Old favourites such as Raincloud, Once in a Blue Moon and Let It All Change kept the crowd on its toes but it was the triumphant anthem High which raised the spirits and the volume to maximum level.

The Lighthouse Family has a knack of producing catchy hits through a well tested formula of good vocals and heavy percussion.

Baiyewu's slick delivery and Tucker's on-stage exuberance have earned them a place in the line-up of Cool Britannia pop stars - and on this showing long may they reign.

The group returns to Nynex on Friday. Mark Rossiter

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