Music lovers packed out Oxford Town Hall for two nights to welcome home one of the city's best-loved bands.

Supergrass, who originally hail from Wheatley, played two sell-out concerts at the historic venue tonight and yesterday.

Fans hailed the first show as an "historic performance"

About 700 people watched each concert - the group's first gigs in the city, since an accident early this year left the band's bass player Mick Quinn badly injured.

Mr Quinn suffered two broken vertebrae and a smashed heel after sleepwalking out of the first-floor window of a villa in the South of France.

Although he joined the audience for Thursday's show, he was unable to perform with the band - his place being taken by Charlie Coombes, brother of singer Gaz Coombes and keyboard player Rob.

The stage at the town hall, in St Aldate's, was lit up with Christmas trees and fairy lights for the occasion. And the band delighted gig-goers with a set of their best loved tunes - including Caught By the Fuzz, Richard III, Moving and Sun Meets The Sky.

They demonstrated their local connections with the songs The Strange Ones - a song about Cowley Road - and 345 Cowley Road - named after the East Oxford house the band formerly shared.

Telling the crowd "me and my brother are going to play a couple of songs," Gaz Coombes then led two songs from the band's Road to Rouen album - St Petersburgh and Fin.

The show was organised by Alan Day, of Cowley-based TCT Music.

Speaking before tonight's performance, he said: "It was an historic homecoming show, and the band pulled it off in fine style. They sounded great - despite not having Mick.

"It's great that Mick turned up, though, but it looks like he's going to have to fight to kick his brother Charlie out of the band."

He added: "The town hall is a great venue, and it's good to put gigs on in such a picturesque building.

"It was also a great way for TCT Music to round off an excellent year."

Among those dancing along at Thursday night's show was long-term fan Martin Williams, from Cutteslowe, Oxford. He said: "It was absolutely amazing to see Supergrass back on their home turf.

"They really warmed to the crowd and played a great show - with everyone's favourite songs. It was an historic performance."

Also there was Tom Harvey, from Abingdon. He said: "Having Supergrass play here was the perfect Christmas present to the people of Oxfordshire.

"The lads played a great show - and Charlie Coombes fitted right in.

"It was nice to know Mick was watching the show, though - and I can't wait to see him back in the band."

Supergrass fans donated hundreds of pounds to an appeal to build a permanent centre to help cancer sufferers in Oxford.

Supporters of the Maggie's Cancer Caring Centre, which operates out of a temporary building at the city's Churchill Hospital, collected donations at the shows.

Spokesman Sandy Briscoe said they hoped to have raised more than £500. She said: "It's really good that Supergrass allowed us to hold our collection. It's nice they support their community - just like us."