Coldplay ready 'Christmas' release

Coldplay will play charity concerts in Liverpool and Newcastle in December

Coldplay have announced they will release a new single for download, Christmas Lights, on 1 December.

Chris Martin and co said in a message on their website that the song "will be in the key of G" and wished fans "a great Christmas and holidays".

The band is recording material for the follow-up to their 2008 album Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends.

They previously announced two Christmas charity gigs in Liverpool and Newcastle in December.

The shows, in aid of homeless charity Crisis, will be their first gigs for more than 12 months.

Coldplay will then play a show in Las Vegas on New Year's Eve with Jay-Z.