POP kings Pulp are to play an open air concert in Dalby Forest next summer.

The band will be part of next year's line up of famous bands to play at the new Ryedale venue.

Earlier this year the forest played host to Jools Holland and his Orchestra and the Levellers.

Thousands of people attended the concerts, which were held over one weekend.

The concerts were partly organised as a campaign to encourage visitors back into the park following the foot and mouth crisis.

Forest bosses also announced they were looking also hoping to attract Jools Holland back to the forest next year.

The venue has been chosen by Pulp - currently promoting their new album 'We Love Life' - as part of the band's wish to get closer to nature.

During the course of the album frontman Jarvis Cocker sings about birds, rivers plants and trees.

"We stripped away all the things and in the end we were left with bare earth, trees and nature," said Jarvis, who famously mooned at pop king Michael Jackson.

North York Moors District forester Peter Green said he was delighted Pulp had agreed to play in the forest.

"The venue proved its worth last year and provided a magnificent backdrop of two nights of rollicking music," he added.

The concert takes place on Saturday June 22 and tickets are priced from £21.

They can be booked through the Forestry Commission's ticket hotline on 01842 814612 or 0115 9129130.

Updated: 09:35 Wednesday, December 05, 2001