CRAIG David has revealed plans for a new album and tour this year.

Details of the eagerly awaited follow-up to 2002's charttopping Slicker Than Your Average are still in their infancy, but speaking to fans in his website Christmas message, the Southampton star said a release date in the spring

had been planned for the as

yet untitled third studio album.

"2005 is already shaping up to be an exciting time," he revealed. "The release of my new album is planned for spring, followed by some

live dates and an extensive tour so don't stress, I'll be

playing near you soon," he promised.

This will be Craig's toughest year yet since he first burst on to the music scene nearly five years ago with the irresistible garage smash Fill Me In.

A succession of chart-toppers followed including the raunchy R 'n' B classic 7 Days and the critically-acclaimed number one selling debut album Born to Do It - a record that blew critics away with its originality, freshness and inventiveness.

By the time the multi-platinum selling Slicker Than Your Average was released in 2002, Craig had succeeded where Robbie Williams hadn't by

selling more than a million albums in the States and becoming a huge commercial success in a country few Brits have broken.

Since those heady heights, though, Craig has fallen foul of the dreaded Radio One playlist with bosses refusing to play his most recent singles. The pressure is now on for him to produce an album that wins back a radio station vital to his long-term success.

The last 12 months have been relatively quiet for Craig, though he did hit the headlines recently with his alleged new love interest - Playboy stunner Summer Alice.

The multi-MOBO award winner spent Christmas at his new plush home in London with his family ahead of what will be the busiest and most important year in his career.