Pete Doherty's band restart tour

Singer Pete Doherty has vowed to "start a drug-free life"

Pete Doherty's band Babyshambles are beginning a tour which was rescheduled after singer Doherty was held in custody on drugs charges.

The band cancelled dates in Bristol, Glasgow, Newcastle and London following Doherty's arrest in January.

The ex-Libertines singer subsequently received a 12-month community service order after pleading guilty to seven charges of drug possession.

The six-date tour also includes dates in Leeds and Manchester.

Surprise concert

Last July Babyshambles pulled out of a concert supporting Oasis in Southampton, hours before they had been due onstage, and in October they cancelled concerts in Norwich and Coventry.

They returned to the live circuit by playing a surprise concert at north London venue Koko on 10 February.

Doherty was held in Pentonville Prison in north London for 13 nights in January and sentenced at Ealing Magistrates Court earlier this month.

The 26-year-old was ordered to attend a drug rehabilitation programme and warned he could face prison if he broke his community service order.

He subsequently vowed to "start a drug-free life" and told Channel 4 News that he was "not that much of a junkie anyway".

Babyshambles' tour begins at London's Shepherd's Bush Empire on Monday, ending at Manchester Academy on Sunday.