A LOOKALIKE of a legend in country music is about to come face to face with his spitting image and idol.

Brian Dale, 63, of Lilbourne Drive, Clifton, York, is getting set to meet Willie Nelson when the great man performs at the Hammersmith Apollo, in London, later this month.

Brian, who has been ill for a considerable time, with ailments including heart problems, was due to go and see Willie Nelson when he performed in America, but that particular meeting did not come off.

But when the singer decided to tour this country, his tour company set up a meet and greet for Brian and his wife Beth on June 26 at Hammersmith Apollo.

Derrick's Doubles, a London lookalike agency, bought their concert tickets and Thomas Cook Travel offered to pay for first class rail travel for the Dales' trip to the show as well as their overnight accommodation.

Brian's wife Beth, Evening Press country music writer, said Brian simply could not wait to meet his idol.

She said: "It really is keeping him going at the moment. Everybody who sees Brian think he is Willie Nelson. He is 100 per cent his twin."

Brian and Beth are true devotees of the country music scene, to the point of even having a country and western style wedding.

They are also real devotees of each other, having been voted Britain's most romantic couple on Channel Four's Love in the Afternoon programme on St Valentine's Day, 1996.

Willie Nelson lookalike Brain Dale, off to meet his hero.