TWO of the biggest names in British pop, Sir Cliff Richard and Sir Elton John, are to appear in open-air concerts in the county this summer.

Sir Cliff, 63, is coming to Leeds Castle, near Maidstone, on Sunday, July 25. Sir Elton and his band are staging a one-off concert at the Hop Farm Country Park, Beltring, near East Peckham, on Sunday, June 20.

The show at the hop farm is being sponsored by cross-Channel ferry operators, SeaFrance, in association with the Kent Messenger Group and KM-fm local radio.

Last year Sir Cliff celebrated 45 years in the music business. The Leeds Castle event will be the culmination of his Summer Nights concert series - six outdoor shows he is performing at stately homes and castles around the UK throughout July.

Tickets for Sir Cliff's Summer Nights series will go on sale from Sunday, February 15, priced £44, £35 and £25. They can be obtained on 0870 400 0688 or on-line at www.cclive.co.uk

Tickets for Sir Elton's show are now on sale through the following hotlines: 0870 442 0332, 0870 100 0000 and 0870 848 0000.

It is Sir Elton's first date in Kent since his sell-out appearance at Leeds Castle five years ago.

FOR FULL DETAILS OF BOTH CONCERTS SEE FRIDAY'S KENT MESSENGER