Coldplay's hopes of breaking into the US have hit a setback after their North American tour was cancelled because of illness.

Singer Chris Martin and bass player Guy Berryman have fallen ill with flu, and the band have returned to the UK after cancelling shows in Boston, Toronto and Miami.

A concert at New York's Irving Plaza had to be pulled after just two songs on Friday, with their hit track Yellow reportedly sung by a woman plucked from the sell-out crowd.

That show has now been rescheduled for 9 April, and will take place at the larger Roseland Ballroom.

The band did go ahead with one final show on Monday, at the Metro venue in Chicago.

"With the equipment already set up in the venue, It was felt that this gig could be done as a final push," manager Phil Harvey told fans on Coldplay's website.

He also said the band were planning an "extensive" North American tour to take place in May and June.

Praise

Coldplay were in the US to support their Parachutes album, which is at number 57 on the US album charts this week.

Until the cancellation, they had picked up a lot of praise from critics.

Los Angeles Times critic Robert Hilburn said: "At a time when so much of US commercial rock is taken up with paint-by-number anger and aggression, a band with its own voice and a down-to-earth approach is doubly rewarding."

The group have four nominations for Monday's Brit Awards, including best album and best single for Yellow.