A spokesperson for the Rolling Stones has played down reports the band are set to record a new album and go on tour next year.

Earlier this week, guitarist Keith Richards said the group were “ready to go out there again”.

But the band’s press office told The Guardian: “There are no concrete plans for the Rolling Stones to tour.

“The same applies to rumours that they are going into the studio soon to record a new album."

Richards has been outspoken about the band’s future during the promotional tour for his new autobiography, Life.

He told the BBC earlier this week that they had a lot of “unfinished stuff to work on”.

The Rolling Stones last tour, Bigger Bang, concluded in 2007.

(by Jason Gregory)