KATIE Melua's world tour hits the UK in the autumn with concerts at major venues across the nation including a show at the Bournemouth International Centre on November 10.

The shows will be her biggest British arena tour to date and living proof of a career trajectory that most aspiring singer-songwriters wouldn't even dare dream of.

Since bursting onto the scene in the summer of 2003, at the age of just 18, no one - least of all Katie - would have predicted what the next few years would have in store.

Now 23, she has sold almost eight million albums and, in 2006, became the best selling British female singer in the world.

Awarded the Golden Camera Award for International Pop Artist at the start of 2007 and three months later was presented with the Echo Award for International Female Artist. October last year saw the release of Katie's third album Pictures, which within weeks had knocked Bruce Springsteen off the top spot of Billboard's pan-European chart.

She concluded 2007 with the release of What A Wonderful World, a duet with the late Eva Cassidy, as a fundraiser for the British Red Cross and which topped the British charts. Katie said: "Most of this year will be spent on tour which means I am really looking forward to 2008 - I've always loved performing live, it is a perk of the job although it really doesn't seem like work'. I will be travelling all around the world but, without wanting to sound cheesy, it is always great to come back home and play in Britain."

Tickets are on sale now.