ROLLING STONES - STONES TO PLAY FREE BEACH CONCERT IN RIO

British rockers the ROLLING STONES have announced plans to head to Brazil next year (06) for a free concert on Rio De Janeiro's Copacabana Beach - and up to 1.5 million people are expected to attend.

Up to 1.5 million people traditionally gather on Copacabana Beach to celebrate New Year's Eve and organisers say they expect a similar number for the rockers' 18 February (06) show.

ANA MARIA MAIA, a Rio official for special events, says, "City Hall considers this show to be like another New Year. We will treat it like that."

The event will mark the third time in Brazil for the Stones - and also give frontman SIR MICK JAGGER an opportunity to see his six-year-old son LUCAS, who lives with his TV presenter mother LUCIANA GIMENEZ in Sao Paulo.