Sir Elton John is retiring from live performance because he does not want to miss out on time with his young children.

The singer said his priorities had changed after adopting Zachary and Elijah, who are now aged seven and five, with his husband, David Furnish.

But it will be a long goodbye. The star, who turns 71 in March, is bowing out with a farewell tour lasting three years.

The Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour will take in more than 300 dates on five continents, beginning in the US this September and ending in 2020, when he will perform in the UK.

Sir Elton said he had always imagined that "I was going to be like Ray Charles or BB King, on the road forever", But that changed when he became a father and he realised that "I can't go on forever".

"It's the last time I will be touring and travelling the world because my priorities have changed. We had children and that changed our lives," Sir Elton said.