Chris Rea to leave hospital

Singer Chris Rea is expected to leave hospital after falling ill while preparing to take part in a 24-hour car rally.

Doctors were called to The Road to Hell star when he complained of extreme pain.

Rea, 54, was about to start rehearsing for the Silverstone rally.

Doctors told him to stay at home and rest because of an infected abscess on his leg.

But the singer and guitarist had surgery in hospital after the abscess burst internally, meaning there was a risk of blood poisoning.

Rea became diabetic after narrowly surviving major surgery sparked by a cancer scare in 2001.

His spokeswoman said: "Doctors advised that he rest for the weekend but on Sunday night he was admitted to hospital with complications. He had an operation and is now recovering well.

"The abscess is thought to be a result of an infection bought on by the insulin injections that Chris has to administer daily following his major health problems in 2001."

Rea's manager John Knowles said: "Chris should be out of hospital later.

"He is eager to get back to work as soon as possible and would like all his friends and fans to know that he is heading back to full strength."document.write(unescape("