The Kooks have locked themselves away in the countryside to start work on their third album.

Singer Luke Pritchard says the band have taken a break from touring ahead of the festival season to concentrate on the follow-up to 2008's 'Konk'.

He told Radio 1's Newsbeat: "We kind of barricaded ourselves in the countryside for a few weeks - stayed at some friend's who have a cottage in Norfolk. (We've)just been rehearsing and writing new stuff.

"I feel really fresh about the band - I guess generally we're still just such friends. It's cool, we've just been having fun really."

Despite topping the charts in the UK, 'Konk' has so far failed to replicate the mammoth success of The Kooks' debut album 'Inside In/Inside Out' which as sold in excess of 2million copies.

(by Scott Colothan)