Devoted fans only wanna be with Les... Rollers storm into airport.

Byline: Matthew Aplin

A FORMER Scottish heart-throb touched down at Cardiff International Airport - but without the hordes of fans who once followed his every move.

Les McKeown and the Bay City Rollers made a surprise appearance at the airport yesterday to mark the launch of Fly be's four new summer routes from Cardiff International Airport.

And while frontman McKeownmight be used to playing in front of thousands of screaming women in his heyday, he had to make do with a few tourists and the departing Glasgow Warriors rugby team after their victory at Gwent Dragons.

A few autograph-hunters tracked the Scotsman down and staff and tourists waved their tartan scarves as the band played hits such as Bye Bye Baby and I Only Wanna Be With You.

Les said: "It's hard playing a gig at 11.30am in the morning but we still enjoy it. We always get a good reception from the Welshfans. We played here a few years back at St David's Hall and we love coming here."

The 52-year-old said he did miss the days when fans followed them from gig to gig. He said: "To be centre of attention to all those girls was like a different planet for me. What else can you say? I still get a buzz from doing gigs and I'm still enjoying doing what I do."

One fan who still loves the band and brought a fewvinyl albums for Les to sign was Sandra Rees, 45, a receptionist, of Barry, Vale of Glamorgan.

She said: "I love all their songs but especially Bye Bye Baby. I was mad on them when I was 13, especially Les.

"They are a great band."

Sheila Rose, 66, of Cyncoed, Cardiff, caught a glimpse of the Rollers before jetting off to Alicante.

She said: "I've always loved their records and they still sound great. It's a nice way to start my holiday."

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CAPTION(S):

MOBBED Bay City Rollers performat the Capitol Theatre, Cardiff, in 1975; GIVE A LITTLE LOVE Fans Sandra Rees and Terri Davies with Les McKeown at Cardiff Airport. PICTURE: Mark Fraser Y