SOUTHAMPTON superstar Craig David is preparing to storm the British charts once more - after taking nearly two years out for American promotion.

The mega-successful R&B singer, brought up on Southampton's Holyrood estate, has announced he will be releasing his first single since 2000's Walking Away later this month.

The single will be called What's Your Flavour? and is predicted to be an instant chart-topper when it is released on October 28.

Craig's second album, Slicker Than Your Average, will follow on November 11 and will include a one-off collaboration with Sting, titled Rise and Fall.

The singing sensation, a former pupil of Bellemoor School, Shirley, has made a lavish £700,000 video inspired by his favourite film, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, to accompany the single. Craig's debut album, Born To Do It, was named after a line from the classic kids' film about a boy who wins a tour around a fantastic sweet factory.

Since early last year, Craig has been busy building up his fanbase in America with an extensive tour across the States and several high-profile TV appearances.

Despite only making one major concert appearance in Southampton - at the Guildhall almost two years ago - Craig's musical roots lie firmly in the city.

At the age of 14, he was spinning discs on the pirate radio station PCRS - People's Choice Radio Station - and shortly afterwards graduated to DJ-ing in south coast clubs under the guidance of DJ Flash.

His first big break came in 1996, when he won a national competition to write a song for R&B boy band Damage.

This brought him to the attention of Southampton record producer Mark Hill - one half of UK garage duo Artful Dodger - who worked with him to develop his budding songwriting skills.

The first fruit of this partnership was the song Re-Rewind The Crowd Say Bo Selecta, featured Craig on vocals and was a number for Artful Dodger in 1999.

Craig's first album, produced by Hill featuring more of Craig's self-penned followed in 2000.