SOUTHAMPTON'S sizzling summer pop extravaganza is promising to be a hot one!

Some of the biggest names in the pop world will be coming to the city this summer for the annual Power in the Park festival.

The free event, now in its eighth year, will boast the likes of Blue, Mis-teeq and Hear'Say.

Chart toppers Sophie Ellis Bextor, Daniel Beddingfield and the Sugababes have also been confirmed.

About 65,000 people flocked to Southampton Common for last year's event and organisers are expecting an even bigger turnout for this year's show, which takes place on Sunday, June 9.

So far, 14 acts have been booked to appear and organisers are confident of pulling in even more big names in the coming weeks.

Power FM breakfast show host Rick Jackson said: "This year, for the first time ever, we've asked listeners to phone in and nominate the band they'd most like to see appear at the event.

"Now we've received hundreds of calls and we've managed to get the line-up most of our listeners wanted."

This summer's festival will see Liberty X and Hear'Say, formed from TV's Popstars show, at the same show for the first time.

H and Clare, from last year's headliners Steps, will give fans a chance to hear their new efforts after the band's split.

People driving into Southampton for the event, which runs from noon to 4pm, will be able to park free in city council car parks before midday.

Extra bus and train services will also be laid on.

Sophie Fenning, Power FM events and marketing man-ager, said: "Every year we say it's going to be bigger and better than the last one and it always turns out to be the case.

"It seems to grow and grow, both in the size of the crowds and the acts we attract, every year."