Singer Bedingfield hurt in crash

Bedingfield spent Christmas in New Zealand with his family

Pop singer Daniel Bedingfield had to be cut out of his car after suffering head and neck injuries in a crash on Friday while on holiday in New Zealand.

He is in hospital under observation, a spokesman for record label Polydor said, but his injuries are not serious.

The accident happened near Whangarei in the north of New Zealand's North Island while Bedingfield was driving.

The 24-year-old singer was born in New Zealand, raised in England and has had hits like Never Gonna Leave Your Side.

The star did not break any bones and he was being kept in hospital as a "precaution", the Polydor spokesman said.

'Mangled'

"He did have to be cut out of the car so it was obviously in a bit of a mangled state when he was taken out of the car, so I'm sure that they're just making absolutely certain that he's fine," he told BBC News Online.

The accident happened in the daytime, he added, and no other cars were involved. The passenger in Bedingfield's car escaped unhurt.

Bedingfield spent Christmas in New Zealand with his family and will remain there for the next few weeks.

He shot to fame in 2001 when, after being rejected by several record companies, he recorded his debut album in his bedroom and had a number one single with Gotta Get Thru This.

He has also enjoyed success in the US, where he has reached the top 10 singles chart and been nominated for a Grammy award.