London 2012: Blur to headline Olympics closing show

Blur will headline a show in London's Hyde Park to celebrate the end of the Olympic Games later this year.

The band will be joined by New Order and The Specials at the ticketed concert on 12 August, to coincide with the Olympics closing ceremony.

Blur, who confirmed the news on Twitter, will be honoured at the Brit Awards later for their outstanding contribution to music.

An opening ceremony concert will also take place in Hyde Park on 27 July.

The line-up for that concert is due to be announced shortly. Tickets for the Blur show will go on sale on 24 February.

Giant screens will show highlights of the closing ceremony from the Olympic Park at the 12 August concert.

Blur previously performed sell-out concerts in Hyde Park in 2009.

The number of concerts held in the park are to be cut next year from 13 to nine after complaints from residents.

Westminster Council has also decided to reduce the number of people who can attend the events from 80,000 to 65,000, and in some cases to 50,000.

The changes will come into effect in 2013.