Guns N' Roses plan UK live return

Axl Rose sang on 1980s hits including Paradise City

Rockers Guns N' Roses are to make their first UK live appearance in four years by headlining the Download Festival.

Led by singer and sole original member Axl Rose, they will play Donington Park on 11 June, their first show at the Derbyshire venue since 1988.

Rose said it was "an honour and a privilege" to be returning to the UK, where they last played in 2002.

Metallica will headline the event on 10 June, with Prodigy and Korn among the other acts booked to perform.

Singer Rose said he was looking forward to playing in the UK as it had "always been special" to Guns N' Roses.

New material

"Donington has always meant a lot to me personally, way before I ever played there," he added.

Guns N' Roses performed at the Leeds festival in 2002.

They are expected to perform new songs from their long-awaited Chinese Democracy album, their first original album since 1993, which could be released this year.

Festival director Stuart Galbraith said he was proud to have lined up Guns N' Roses and Metallica for the three-day event.

"Originally we would have been happy to have one of these great bands to headline Download 06, but to be able to secure both is just awesome," he said.