A CHART-TOPPING hip-hop band are getting over a swine flu scare with a trip to the Essex seaside.

Award-winning trio N-Dubz are set to play in front of thousands of fans at the Venue in St Osyth.

Singer Tulisa Contostavlos was at the centre of a swine flu scare after falling ill on a plane last week.

She was given the all clear after being taken to hospital in Athens, but was kept in isolation as a precaution.

N-Dubz’ St Osyth gig was officially announced on Wednesday – the day East Anglia’s first case of swine flu was confirmed in nearby Clacton.

But flu hysteria won’t stop more than fans flocking to the coast for what’s being hailed as another coup for the Essex music scene.

It comes soon after the Sugarbabes’ show at the new £1million Venue, at Seawick Holiday Park.

Some 2,000 fans saw the chart-topping girls in action there in March.

Bosses say the N-Dubz concert will be a spectacular follow-up.

They have ditched more traditional seaside entertainment for crowd-pulling big-name acts.

Director Tony Clish wants to compete with major London venues for headline bands and entertainers.

He said: “The N-Dubz concert will mark the start of a holiday season at the Venue, which will shatter the image of seaside entertainment as a low-key mixture of cosy variety acts.”

“This is predicted to be a scorcher of a summer in Britain, but our seaside resorts desperately need to heat up their live performances if they are to appeal to modern holidaymakers.”

The Camden Town-based group currently top the charts, featuring on Tinchy Stryder’s “Number 1”, and appear on the main stage at Radio 1’s prestigious Big Weekend this Sunday.

Fans are already snapping up tickets for the show in St Osyth on May 23.

Venue entertainments chief John Flack said: “They’re the number one band in the number one spot and they are appearing at Clacton’s number one entertainment centre.”

l Tickets are £15 and £25 (plus £2.50 booking fee) from the Venue box office on 0845 8159709.