FOR one night only, The Three Degrees, the longest-running female vocal group in history, will be coming to Dorset next month.

The show, part of a tour across the UK, will see the unstoppable trio perform some of their greatest hits and enduring classics at the Barrington Centre in Ferndown on Friday October 14.

Currently celebrating 50 years in the business, original members Helen Scott and Valerie Holiday, along with new arrival Freddie Pool (who joined in 2011), said they are looking forward to returning to Dorset. “For us, it is still exciting and we still enjoy our work,” says Valerie Holiday. “We are blessed with a wide age group appeal from 15 to 65.”

They were, without doubt, the most successful female soul/disco outfit of the 1970s, scoring hit after hit for Philadelphia International Records, including the enduring classic, ‘When Will I See You Again’, ‘Year of Decision’, ‘Take Good Care of Yourself’ and the UK Top 10 hits, ‘Woman in Love’ and ‘My Simple Heart’.

Helen Scott adds: “We have opened a lot of doors for other entertainers. In some cases, we may not have always succeeded but we have never given up. It still amazes me when we see teenagers singing along with our songs. And yet we still have the fans who have grown up with us.”

This year also marks the launch of their first studio album in 25 years, ‘Strategy (Our Tribute to Philadelphia)’ and features the trio’s personal tribute to timeless Philadelphia classics such as The O’Jays’ ‘Love Train’, The Trammps’ ‘Disco Inferno’ and Billy Paul’s classic, ‘Me & Mr. Jones’.

Tickets £25. To book, call 01202 894858.