Jessie J postpones sold-out tour to work on new album

Jessie J: The 24-year-old star of The Voice topped the poll in 2011 (Getty Images)

Chart-topping star Jessie J has postponed her entire sell-out arena tour because she wants to spend more time recording her album.

The singer, who is also a coach on BBC1's The Voice, had been due to embark on a 17-date series of shows in a little over two months.

But today she told fans she was rescheduling the shows until October of next year because she wanted "more time" to work on her new songs.

Jessie announced the concerts, her first full arena tour of the UK and Ireland, in May and tickets went on sale just days later.

The Brit Award-winning performer has had to pull out of a number of shows previously as a result of health problems. Last year she had to cancel appearances after damaging her ankle during a fall, and this summer she withdrew from concerts after being diagnosed with a "fatigue" virus.

She told fans today: "I am honestly truly sorry but I hope you all can understand that it's just because I would like to take more time to finish my new album.

"I promise to make this tour my biggest and best ever and cannot wait for you all to hear my new songs."

Tickets will be valid for the new shows and the venues remain the same apart from a concert at Glasgow SECC which is going to move to the Hydro Arena.

The tour will begin at Belfast Odyssey Arena on October 15, rather than Nottingham Arena which would have been the first show.

PA