Ed Sheeran announces surprise new album No. 6

Ed Sheeran's last album Divide sold 15.8m copies

Ed Sheeran has surprised fans by announcing a new album of collaborations due for release in July.

The singer revealed the news to his 29m followers in a post on Instagram.

No.6 Collaborations Project is the follow up to Sheeran's last album Divide, which has sold more than 15.8m units worldwide.

I Don't Care, the first single from the new album, which features Canadian pop star Justin Bieber, is currently topping the UK charts.

Justin Bieber and Ed Sheeran previously collaborated on the single Love Yourself

Sheeran, from Suffolk, released an EP of collaborations, called No. 5 Collaborations Project, before signing for a major record label in 2010.

In a post on Instagram Sheeran said he had always wanted to repeat the collaborations project he had made in 2011, before he was signed.

He said: "I am huge fan of all the artists I have collaborated and it's been a lot of fun to make."

Sheeran is yet to reveal most of the collaborators on the album but other names include Chance the Rapper and PnB Rock.A

Ed Sheeran announced the new collaborations album on Instagram

He is preparing for a series of "homecoming" gigs at Ipswich's Chantry Park and Roundhay Park in Leeds in August.

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Ed Sheeran is due to complete his world tour later this year