YOU just can’t beat a bit of Chas & Dave, it’s that simple.

Some people may dismiss the duo as a bit of a novelty act but a career spanning four decades suggests they are much more than that.

London’s finest brought their own unique brand of so-called ‘rockney’ to Weymouth Pavilion and the crowd simply lapped it up.

Playing together for such a long time means that Chas Hodges and Dave Peacock have got their act down to a fine art.

The two might be in their 70s now but they appear not to have lost any of the vim and vigour they had when they formed 40 years ago.

Joined by Hodges’ son Nik on drums, the pair took a packed pavilion on a journey through their long career in the business.

The first half of the set featured several cover versions of hits by the likes of Chuck Berry, Lonnie Donegan and music hall favourite Harry Champion.

Donegan’s Railroad Bill and Champion’s frenetic Hey Diddle Diddle were particular highlights, while the audience joined in with offerings hailing from across the pond such as Dry Bones and I Don’t Know Why I Love You (But I Do).

But it was the last song before the interval that really got the crowd going.

Gertcha was Chas & Dave’s first top-20 hit in 1979 and the record that really brought them to the attention of the British people.

That served to whet the appetite of the audience for the second part of the show which included more of the tracks that have become synonymous with the duo over the years.

All By Myself, London Girl and That Old Piano again showed off their distinct lyrical and musical style at its best.

Also featuring in the set was Margate, one that Only Fools and Horses fans would have been familiar with as it was used in the comedy’s 1989 Christmas special, The Jolly Boys’ Outing.

Two Worlds Collide and Wallop led into the song that most would associate with Chas & Dave – Rabbit, their first top-10 hit in 1980.

The night was then rounded off by Ain’t No Pleasing You, their highest chart entry at number two in 1982, and The Sideboard Song.