Lightbody down and out as Final Straw hits no. 1

Snow Patrol have been forced to pull festival dates in Austria, Germany, Portugal, Belgium and Holland after Gary Lightbody was taken ill on August 12 and ordered by doctors to rest for a week.

"The band have had virtually no time off this year and have spent the last 12 months touring solidly round the world," says a spokesperson. "With a full autumn schedule of events coming up right through to Christmas the decision was made to let Gary get back to full health so that they could fulfil all the planned live outings."

The plan seems to be working with Gary expected to be fully fit for this weekend's twin V2004 festivals in the UK.

The other good news is that 28 weeks after its release, their Final Straw album has taken over from Scissor Sisters at the top of the Irish album chart.