SHIRLEY BASSEY - DAME SHIRLEY 'RECOVERING' AFTER EMERGENCY SURGERY

DAME SHIRLEY 'RECOVERING' AFTER EMERGENCY SURGERY

Dame Shirley Bassey is recovering in hospital after an emergency operation on her stomach, according to her spokesman.

The Diamonds Are Forever star was admitted to hospital in Monaco, where she now lives, after calling her doctor in the middle of the night last week.

And after undergoing stomach surgery, the 71-year-old singer is now recuperating, her spokesman Paul Carey explained.

"Dame Shirley Bassey is recovering well after an emergency operation to relieve stomach complications, after complaining of abdominal pain last wee," he told the BBC.

"The Dame was admitted to hospital in Monaco, where she is a resident.

"Doctors performed an emergency procedure and the Dame is making a good recovery and doctors are happy with her progress."

The Tiger Bay, Cardiff native - who performed on the Pyramid stage at last year's Glastonbury festival wearing diamond-encrusted wellington boots - is expected to recover in time for her scheduled appearance at the charity concert in honour of Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday.

Having made her chart debut in 1956, Dame Shirley went on to record the theme tunes for three James Bond films, Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever and Moonraker.

Having recorded a remix of History Repeating with the dance duo Propellerheads in 1997, Dame Shirley won a new generation of fans.