Metallica announce UK arena tour

Metallica have announced an eight-date UK tour, their first full set of live gigs in Britain in 12 years.

The group have made numerous appearances at UK festivals, but their last large-scale tour was in 1996 in support of the album Load.

The World Magnetic Tour kicks off at Nottingham's Trent FM Arena on February 25 next year and heads to Manchester, Sheffield, London, Newcastle, Birmingham and Glasgow, before wrapping up with a second date at London's O2 Arena on March 28.

"We can't wait to visit the UK again, so strap in, hang on, and get ready for the nuttiness to begin!" the band said in a statement.

Metallica's ninth studio album Death Magnetic recently spent two weeks at the top of the UK album chart.