Reports that Pet Shop Boys front man Neil Tennant is in a critical condition in a German hospital were a "total hoax", a spokesman said.

The rumours started on Twitter and suggested the pop star had been in a car crash.

It was also suggested he was suffering from heart failure.

A publicist for the band said the online reports were "false" and a "total hoax".

The band's official Twitter account also tweeted: "Stories reporting that Neil has been seriously injured are a hoax. PSB HQ."

The Pet Shop Boys are set to play 10 dates in America in April as part of the Electric 2014 tour, including a headlining slot at the Coachella music festival in California.

The publicist added: "He is alive and well. Read their Twitter. He wasn't even in Germany."