Ed Sheeran: New song, I See Fire, for Hobbit sequel

Ed Sheeran has written a track for The Hobbit sequel The Desolation of Smaug.

The song, I See Fire, is the singer's first solo release for two years and will appear in the film's end credits.

In a series of tweets Sheeran, 22, revealed he produced and played every instrument on the track except cello.

He also thanked the film's director, Peter Jackson, and the production team for the chance to be a part of the film, which is scheduled for UK release on 13 December.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is the second instalment of three films based on J. R. R. Tolkien's 1937 novel, The Hobbit.

The new film features Benedict Cumberbatch as the voice of Smuag, one of the last remaining dragons in Middle-Earth.

Sir Ian McKellen plays Gandlaf in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

The trio of films, which will be completed by There and Back Again in 2014, act as a prequel to Jackson's Lord of The Rings trilogy.

Sheeran announced that, even though he had gone to the effort of learning violin for the track, I See Fire will not appear on his new album.

Referring to the follow-up to 2011's +, he added: "That fun starts next year."

The singer is currently playing a string of sold out shows at Madison Square Garden in New York.

During the most recent date on 1 November, he was joined on stage by Taylor Swift to perform their duet Everything Has Changed.

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