U2 fans get ready to rock

U2 will play the SECC on Monday and Tuesday

Fans of rock superstars U2 make preparations to attend two last-minute concerts in Glasgow.

The Irish group hastily arranged the gigs on Monday and Tuesday at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) as part of their UK and Ireland Elevation tour.

Tickets went on sale on Thursday and thousands queued in a blaze of sunshine outside the venue to snap up tickets.

All 18,600 tickets were sold by the afternoon.

The SECC received a flood of calls

U2's visit to Glasgow on Monday and Tuesday follows an open-air concert in the grounds of Slane Castle, County Meath, Ireland, on Saturday.

Many of the 80,000 ticket holders pitched up at the site beside the River Boyne some eight hours before the first song was played.

After playing its two dates in Scotland, the Irish band will be back on home soil next Saturday for a repeat performance at Slane Castle.

U2 will be supported at the SECC by Glasgow five-piece Cosmic Rough Riders.

The decision to play the gigs came just days after the death of lead singer Bono's 75-year-old father Bob Hewson in Dublin.

Bono, whose real name is Paul Hewson, had flown back to Dublin on a nightly basis from the band's tour to be with him.