Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe are to play 10 arena dates across the UK in December to back the release of a new - as yet untitled - album. It will be their first new collection since 1996.

The duo are already performing at this year's Creamfields dance festival in August.

The group are also teaming up with artist Sam Taylor Wood. She will be providing vocals for a cover version of Serge Gainsbourg's steamy Je T'Aime on the B-side of their new single, I Don't Know What You Want But I Can't Give It Anymore.

One of the Pet Shop Boys' earlier images

They are also planning a new image to promote the single - sporting thick eyebrows, dark oval glasses and fluffy blond hair. They are also wearing very wide, candy-striped trousers that are thought to have been inspired by the samurai.

Neil Tennant said of the new image: "We just want to look different."

The group were at their peak in the late 1980s, with four number ones; West End Girls, Always On My Mind, It's A Sin and Heart.

They were last in the public eye in 1996, when they played a series of shows at the Savoy Theatre in London. It was there they met Taylor Wood, who designed the set for the shows.

Tennant was also on the judging panel for the Turner Prize last year when she was a nominee.