U2 say sorry with new dates

Rockers U2 are hoping to make up to North American fans for a recent ticket sales debacle by announcing new dates this autumn.

The group was left apologising to fan club members at February's Grammy Awards after a pre-sale offer to them fell through, leaving many devotees without tickets for the initial dates on the Vertigo tour.

But the Irish rockers are working hard with the tour producers to make sure all the technical problems during the initial ticket sale at the beginning of 2005 have now been ironed out for the new dates, which will begin in Toronto, Canada, on September 12.

Meanwhile, U2's first North American dates of the year begin on March 28 in San Diego, California. The group then heads for Europe for a series of summer shows.