THE future of Suffolk rockers The Darkness was plunged into uncertainty last night after frontman Justin Hawkins quit the band.The Lowestoft-raised singer, famed for his falsetto high notes and outlandish catsuits, is reported to have made the decision during a recent spell in rehabilitation for his drug and alcohol problems.

THE future of Suffolk rockers The Darkness was plunged into uncertainty last night after frontman Justin Hawkins quit the band.

The Lowestoft-raised singer, famed for his falsetto high notes and outlandish catsuits, is reported to have made the decision during a recent spell in rehabilitation for his drug and alcohol problems.

He said: “I feel bad for the others. It will be an upheaval. But it's time for me to move on.

“It would be damaging to my recovery to stay on. I'm not blaming the band for my problem - I am an addict. There are people who can be in bands and stay clean, but I'm not one of them.

“I am going to do a solo record at some point and get into scoring films. But this is all new so the future is still uncertain.”

Justin, 31, was admitted to the Priory earlier this year - the clinic renowned for treating celebrity clients for a range of problems, ranging from alcohol and drug abuse to stress.

Yesterday, in a statement released to fans, the band confirmed Justin's departure.

It read: “We're sorry that you had to find this out through the newspapers, but we were hoping until the last minute that this - Justin's exit - wasn't going to happen.

”We - Dan, Ed and Richie - are still in total shock and can't say at this stage what the future holds.

”We would like to thank all our fans, partners and family for their continuous support.

”You will hear from us, once we know what we want to do.”

There is speculation the band could continue with bass player Richie Edwards, who took over from Frankie Poullain in May last year, becoming the new frontman.

But no one from the band's record label was yesterday available to confirm or deny this.

The Darkness, formed by Justin, his brother Dan and best friend Ed Graham, first hit the headlines in 2003 when their single Growing On Me debuted at number 11.

Weeks later their album Permission To Land went straight in at number two, before reaching the top spot, shifting 1.5million copies in the UK alone.

The band first attracted attention in 2002 with debut single I Believe In A Thing Called Love, which charted outside the Top 40.

The re-release of the song the following year saw them claiming number two in the singles charts - followed by prizes at the Brits and MTV Europe Awards as well as a Mercury Prize nomination.

The band's second album, One Way Ticket To Hell And Back, peaked at number 11 in the album, below expectations.