Radiohead, the Grammy-winning band from Oxford, are expected to debut new material from their unfinished sixth album on the internet.

The band, who have been working on the record in Los Angeles and in the UK, are planning a webcast at 2200 GMT on Wednesday.

Singer Thom Yorke has posted a message on the band's website, telling fans they should download the Realplayer viewer, which lets users play music over the net.

The message reads: "Now then. You might want to download Realplayer by 10pm on Wednesday the 18th of December 2002.

"We think it's a good idea. Unless of course you have something better to do. In which case fair enough. It's just a thought. Nothing may happen.

"Every day I wake up and wonder whether this is the day it will happen. Make some coffee, turn on the radio and wait. It hasn't happened yet. Happy Christmas. Thom."

The new album is released in early next year

The band is rumoured to be playing the track 2+2=5, which they have been working on for the new album, which will be released early in 2003.

The record comes after a three-year recording session that saw the band release two studio albums in a year: Kid A in 2000 and Amnesiac in 2001.

It is not the first time the band have webcast music from their recording sessions - they held several during the time Kid A was being made.

The band, who formed in Oxford in the early 90s, have won Grammy awards for their albums Kid A and 1997's's OK Computer, which has regularly topped polls as one of the greatest albums of all time.