BLUR frontman Damon Albarn was famously part of the Britpop phenomenon of the mid-1990s, when his band took on and beat Oasis to the No 1 singles spot.

But he has swapped the rock'n'roll lifestyle and fallen in love with the wildlife off the coast of the Isle of Mull.

The man behind hits such as Country Life went swimming with basking sharks while on holiday on the island after checking into the Western Isles Hotel in Tobermory.

Local RSPB officer Dave Sexton, who escorted Albarn, DJ friend Marc Riley and filmmaker and writer Ceri Levy on the trip, said: "They went swimming with basking sharks and visited Staffa and we had fantastic views of sea eagles. He seemed in his element, very chilled, and enjoying what he was seeing."

Albarn's new album, Everyday Robots, has been nominated for a Mercury prize and he plays the Royal Albert Hall on November 15 and 16.

Mr Sexton added: "He's not a mad twitcher by any means but clearly enjoys the peace and quiet as a change to the wild rock star life."