Sting's bad throat cancels show

Rock star Sting has cancelled tonight’s show in his home city because of a throat infection, the venue announced.

The artist was due to open the UK leg of his world tour at Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena this evening.

Sting, the son of a milkman from Wallsend, North Tyneside, announced yesterday he was “praying” he would be fit to sing tonight.

He has suffered a bout of laryngitis which has forced him to cancel a number of recent European dates.

Doctors have advised him he is not fit enough to perform.

According to Metro Radio Arena’s official website, the concert will be rescheduled, possibly in the autumn, and tickets for tonight’s show would be valid.

It said: “On behalf of the artist, promoter and the Metro Radio Arena, may we apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused by circumstances out of anyone’s control.”