Blur announce European festival dates

The band have also taken on solo projects over the years

Blur have announced three European dates next year, having hinted their recent Hyde Park gig would be their last.

The band, who headlined the London 2012 Olympics closing concert on 12 August, will perform in Belgium, Spain and Portugal.

In May, they will play one date in Porto and one in Barcelona as part of the Primavera Sound festival.

Blur will also headline Rock Werchter in Belgium on 5 July 2013.

Speaking to the BBC ahead of the Hyde Park gig, bassist Alex James said: "We may never have done anything again if it hadn't have been for the trigger of being asked to do this show.

"We felt it was something we couldn't turn down."

Blur were honoured at this year's Brit Awards for their outstanding contribution to music.

It came 21 years after their debut and 17 years after they won four Brits off the back of their Parklife album.

The four-piece briefly reformed in summer 2009 but chose to disband after a series of high-profile outdoor shows before reuniting again for the Olympics gig.