THE Searchers are coming to Chelmsford to show they are still rocking more than 50 years after forming.

The band, whose biggest hits include Sweets for My Sweet and Needles and Pins, are playing at the Civic Theatre, in Fairfield Road, on March 20, as part of a national tour.

The group, originally from Liverpool, formed in 1959 before coming into prominence in the early 1960s with a string of hits.

Frank Allen, the band’s bass player, said it is an amazing feeling to go past the 50th anniversary mark, adding the guys are still ready to rock around the world.

He said: “I doubt if any group who made the charts in the mid sixties could imagine it was going to last to this extent.

“Four or five years would have been great and then we figured we’d probably have to find other ways of making a living.

“There were downs as well as ups, a lot of them, but we managed to ride out the bad times and finally we became a respected part of the Britpop musical heritage.”

Looking ahead to their performance in Chelmsford, Frank said the group were really looking forward to the gig.

“We’ve been to Chelmsford many times and have never been disappointed,” he said.

“It’s a history of the Searchers in both music and anecdotes about the things that have happened along the way.

“We’ll play a lot of album tracks and B-sides, along with the great hits. This has proved to be a very satisfying combination with the fans of old.”

To book tickets, visit www.chelmsford.gov.uk/theatres or call 01245 606505.