Veteran rockers The Who are to retire from the stage after one last world tour to mark their 50th anniversary.

Surviving members Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey, who formed the band in 1964, are planning a spectacular series of gigs to mark their half century next year (14) but insist it will be their last time out on the road.

The band wrapped up a tour of its classic album Quadrophenia at London's Royal Albert Hall in July (13) but both rockers have had health issues in recent years - Daltrey needs regular throat check-ups after having a pre-cancerous growth removed in 2010 and Townshend uses special earpieces to combat recurring tinnitus.

Earlier this year (13), singer Daltrey hinted the Substitute hitmakers might mark their 50th anniversary after witnessing fans' reactions to The Rolling Stones' reunion gigs last year (12).

Townshend has now backed the idea of an anniversary tour, telling the London Evening Standard, "For the 50th anniversary we'll tour the world. It'll be the last big one for us. There are still places we've not played. It would be good to go to eastern Europe and places that haven't heard us play all the old hits."