ATOMIC KITTEN are maintaining their reputation as the hardest-working girls in pop by embarking on their first ever UK tour tomorrow night.

Since the girls (Liz McClarnon, Natasha Hamilton and Jenny Frost) burst onto the pop scene in November 1999 they have scored no more than six top 20 singles with two number one hits in the shape of Whole Again and Eternal Flame.

Their first single, Right Now, spent seven weeks in the top 40 and defied critics who thought releasing a debut single at such a busy time of year was a big risk.The follow-up, See Ya, released the following March, crash-landed in the charts at number six and set the pattern for fun, poppy and catchy Atomic Kitten tunes.

Their debut album, Right Now, was rush released and it wasn't just the UK that went Kitten-crazy - the group has since become Japan's biggest international act, both in terms of sales and profile.

The band's third single, the excellent I Want Your Love, saw the Kittens achieve their third consecutive top ten hit and score them a live support slot with Steps followed by their fourth single, the R 'n' B-tinged Follow Me.

As the girls kicked off 2001 with promotion for their number one smash hit single Whole Again, original member Kerry Katona announced that she was pregnant and, in a football-style transfer, the equally lovely Jenny Frost joined the litter from Precious.

Since then, the girls have re-released the album See Ya with Jenny on vocals and have topped the charts again with their version of Eternal Flame.

* For tickets and information, call 023 9283 4146.

PAUL GREEN