POP star Morrissey has cancelled a sell-out concert at Bournemouth’s O2 Academy on Monday night after collapsing at a gig at the weekend.

The 50-year-old former Smiths front man was performing at the Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon on Sunday when the gig was cut short after a rendition of This Charming Man.

He was discharged later on Sunday from Swindon’s Great Western Hospital.

A statement from Morrissey’s management said on Sunday night that the concert was being cancelled “on medical advice”.

“Morrissey has now been released from hospital and is under doctors' instruction to rest,” the statement said.

“Ticket holders for Bournemouth Academy and the abandoned Swindon Oasis concert are advised to hold on to their tickets and await news regarding potential new dates or refund. Customers will be notified where possible and full information posted with ticket outlets and venues.

“Event organisers apologise for this unavoidable situation.”

Onlookers at the Swindon concert described seeing Morrissey “straining” to perform and slumping to his knees on stage.

Two band members rushed to his side and dragged him offstage.

Eyewitness Mark Taylor, 40, told the Sunday Telegraph: ``The stage went dark and he was taken off the stage and then his band then all left the stage.

``There was a wait of about 25 minutes before one of the stage crew came on and said Morrissey had left the building, and that he was seriously ill.

``Everybody started booing, thinking 'here we go again'. He has a bit of a poor track record for cancelling his concerts.''

A spokeswoman for the Great Western Ambulance Service said: ``Just after 9pm we got a call to a 50-year-old man who was reported to be suffering from respiratory problems and was unconscious.

``We sent a paramedic in a doubled-crewed ambulance.

``When they arrived they found a conscious patient who was not feeling well at all. They made an initial assessment and took him to the Great Western Hospital for further assessment.''

A spokeswoman for the hospital said yesterday: ''Morrissey became unwell, and he was admitted overnight as a precautionary measure. He's been seen by the medical team, much improved and now discharged home.''