DIANA Ross is to play her first British tour dates for seven years next month.

In the news this week after being sentenced to two days' imprisonment for a drink-driving offence in Tucson, Arizona, the former Supremes singer will be back on the road in Europe from March 6 to 20.

In the only Yorkshire show on her Live Love tour, she will play the Sheffield Hallam FM Arena on March 16.

Ross, approaching 60, last toured these shores in 1997 on her Voice Of Love tour and has not performed on a European stage since the 2002 Picnic In The Park in Hyde Park, London, for the Prince's Trust.

The Live Love tour will visit Sheffield, London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Newcastle, Belfast, Dublin, Paris, Antwerp, and Rotterdam.

Ross signed to the Motown label in January 1961, initially as lead singer of The Supremes, who became the most successful girl group of all time, and since 1969 as a solo artist. She has notched up 28 British Top Ten hits, spending 1,466 weeks in the UK singles and albums charts: or 28 years in total, if you have the time to add them up.

She is the most prolific American female singer in British chart history, having sung lead vocals on at least one hit per year for 33 consecutive years from 1964 to 1996. She also has had more albums on the UK chart than any other American female artist.

Almost 40 years since Ross first reached the number one spot in both the USA and UK charts with The Supremes' hit Where Did Our Love Go in June 1964, she is still winning awards. Last year she received the Legendary Female Artist Award from London radio station Capital Gold, after winning more votes from the public than fellow nominees Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, Madonna and Annie Lennox.

Noted for her lavish stage costumes and intimate live performances, Ross will present her Live Love tour show in the round at all British venues except Glasgow. Tickets for her Sheffield date cost £40 or £30 on 0114 256 5656, or on Ticketmaster's 24-hour credit card hotline, 0870 400 0688, or online at www.cclive.co.uk

Updated: 09:05 Friday, February 13, 2004