IRISH band, The Cranberries have been forced to cancel their 'Free To Decide' European tour amid worries over the health of singer Dolores O'Riordan.

Doctors have advised Dolores that she is "too weak and fragile" to handle the tour after sustaining knee and leg injuries and other medical problems.

Dolores said: "I feel terribly for all the people who were looking forward to our shows.

"But the best thing I can do for the band and our fans is to get healthy."

Since injuring her knee on the band's tour of Australia, Dolores has lost muscle mass in her leg and has been undergoing two hours of physiotherapy each day.

Drummer Fergal Lawler said: "Dolores' health has increasingly suffered due to the stress of travelling, doing interviews, completing physical therapy and performing for more than 90 minutes at each show."

The band's manager, Lewis Kovac, added: "Everyone involved in The Cranberries' career fully understands the necessity of this decision and wholeheartedly supports the band.

"Dolores has been courageous in what she's given to please her fans, but nothing is more important to the people who work with Dolores than her health."

The Cranberries have performed more than 450 concerts in the past three years and sold more than 20 million albums worldwide.

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