The band postponed the start of the European leg of their world tour

Press reports said the hell-raising guitarist had surgery again following a first operation on Monday.

But an official statement said the first operation was "100% successful".

"There was no brain damage," it said. "He continues to improve as expected." Richards is thought to have fallen out of a tree while on holiday in Fiji.

He is being treated in New Zealand and the band have postponed the start of the European leg of their world tour, which was due to kick off at the end of May.

'Bedside vigil'

His spokeswoman Fran Curtis also denied a Sun newspaper front page story that said Richards's family had mounted a bedside vigil.

Jerry Hall, former wife of Stones singer Sir Mick Jagger, said she was in contact with Richards's family by email and the guitarist was "doing very well".

"We are very upset about it. Mick is on holiday at the moment so he is hearing the same news as we are," she said.

The Rolling Stones' A Bigger Bang European tour is now expected to start in June - but details of the rearranged shows have not been confirmed.