Shropshire pop star Carol will launch autobiography in county

T'Pau will perform in the town where it all began on January 30 and Decker will publish her autobiography in the same week.

Her band will play Walker Theatre in a new show called Songs and Stories. It will give fans the chance to hear classic hits like China In Your Hand, Heart and Soul and Valentine, as well as new tunes from their recently-released album Pleasure And Pain.

Fans will also get to hear the stories behind the hits as Decker, who grew up in Wellington before moving to Shrewsbury, will intersperse her set with tales from her remarkable, jet-setting career.

She will tell fans about her early years in Shrewsbury, where she worked as a barmaid at a local pub and lived at the Pengwern Boat Club for four years, while writing the songs that became her biggest hits.

She said: "This is something completely new. The fans can look forward to hearing all of the classic hits. But we'll also be telling them the stories behind the songs. It's going to be an amazing tour."

During T'Pau's golden era, Decker and her band became one of the biggest in Britain.

She held off both George Harrison and Paul McCartney in one memorable week when their album, Bridge of Spies, and single, China In Your Hand, were both at number one. The band's debut album was certified quadruple platinum while the follow-up, Rage, also secured a platinum disc. Decker said: "We had a remarkable run and my story will be told for the first time in my autobiography, which is published in January."

Decker will tell stories from the book as she introduces some of the band's biggest hits. She will also meet fans after the show to sign copies of the book and CDs.

Tickets are available, priced £20, from Theatre Severn.

Carol also appeared on the popular BBC TV quiz Pointless at the weekend, alongside Paul Young, Sheila Ferguson and Paul Heaton.