SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY - MCCARTNEY FORCED TO CANCEL GIG

Former BEATLE SIR PAUL McCARTNEY has been forced to cancel his latest British gig after losing his voice.

The YESTERDAY star, who is suffering with a cold, lost his voice after performing in Sheffield, England last night (05APR03).

Fans for tonight's (06APR03) gig at the HALLAM ARENA in the northern town have been urged to hold on to tickets, as organisers bid to reschedule the show.

McCartney says, "I've caught a cold which made my voice start to go after last night's show.

"I woke up this morning with virtually no voice. I've been doing all that I can to try and get my voice back and I tried singing a couple of numbers at a sound check this afternoon.

"But nothing has worked, and so I am afraid I have to cancel this show in order to save the other gigs on the tour.

"I'm sorry to all the people who all bought tickets for the show, at least we got to do one gig in Sheffield. We'll be back to do the show here at some other time."

McCartney - who has already taken his BACK IN THE WORLD extravaganza around America, Canada, Mexico and Japan, playing 58 concerts in 37 cities - is touring in Britain for the first time in ten years.