LONDON indie outfit Bombay Bicycle Club performed a modest set on the beach at Hengistbury Head.

The four-piece were invited to play at the unusual setting by local university graduate Simon Harris, 23, who answered an ad on their website for interesting places to add to their tour.

He suggested they perform at his beach hut for him and a small group of friends, and was one of four lucky winners – others suggesting puppet theatres, castles and coal mines.

With bassist and drummer on percussion and the guitarists playing acoustic, the set was warmly received by all in attendance, with some fans taking to the instruments themselves.

Singer Jack Steadman took some requests and attempted a cover of Love Will Tear Us Apart, though it degenerated into repetitions of the chorus when no one could provide him with words to the later verses.

The most popular song of the evening had to be Always Like This, a catchy track made all the better with the soundtrack of the waves lashing against the shore.

They went on to play a number of other songs from their forthcoming album, I Had the Blues But I Shook Them Off, and the civilised gathering lapped up every minute of it.