Girls Aloud announce reunion tour and greatest hits album

Girls Aloud reunion announced (AP)

Newly reunited girl group Girls Aloud have confirmed a tour next year.

The band created through ITV1 talent show Popstars: The Rivals in 2002 consist of Cheryl Cole, Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh.

The group announced their plans at a press conference today.

The 12-date tour will open in Cheryl's hometown of Newcastle upon Tyne with two gigs on 21 and 22 February.

They also confirmed the release of their new single, "Something New", 18 on November. A YouTube preview of the track published three days ago has already had more than 800,000 hits.

They are planning to release a greatest hits album, called Ten.

Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw introduced them and said the five were "the defining UK girl group of the modern era".

Roberts said the reunion was "meant to be" in their anniversary year.

Coyle said they would "wait and see how the fans react" before deciding what would happen next.

This year marks a decade since they claimed their first number one with "Sound Of The Underground".

Cole said it was "incredible" to be back together, saying: "If you asked us 10 years ago we wouldn't have dreamt we'd be here today".

PA