Waits pulls the crowds

Offbeat rock legend and film star Tom Waits has returned to the British stage for the first time since 1987.

The only British date on his European tour promoting "cubist funk" album Blood Rain generated great excitement among his British fans.

The 3000-capacity Hammersmith Apollo sold out in 20 minutes when tickets went on sale and some 70,000 fans clamoured for tickets in the first hour.

Music stars including Thom Yorke, Beth Orton and Jamie Cullum were among the crowd to see Waits perform a mixture of new material and old favourites from his 30-year career.