ABBA have announced they are set to release new music for the first time in 35 years.

Posting a statement on the official ABBA Instagram account, the band wrote: “The decision to go ahead with the exciting ABBA avatar tour project had an unexpected consequence.

“We all four felt that, after some 35 years, it could be fun to join forces again and go into the recording studio. So we did. And it was like time had stood still and that we had only been away on a short holiday. An extremely joyful experience!”

ABBA: Eurovision victory in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 ABBA: Eurovision victory in pictures ABBA: Eurovision victory in pictures Abba performs their song Waterloo during the Eurovision Song Contest AFP/Getty ABBA: Eurovision victory in pictures Abba congratulate each other in Brighton, after winning the Eurovision Song Contest PA ABBA: Eurovision victory in pictures ABBA celebrate Getty ABBA: Eurovision victory in pictures ABBA give the thumbs up after winning the Eurovision Song Contest with their song 'Waterloo' Getty ABBA: Eurovision victory in pictures ABBA posing at Waterloo railway station. Getty ABBA: Eurovision victory in pictures Anna and Frida singing Sweden's entry, "Waterloo", during a dress rehearsal in Brighton PA ABBA: Eurovision victory in pictures Abba meet a mounted policeman as they relax in Brighton, after their victory in the Eurovision Song Contest PA ABBA: Eurovision victory in pictures ABBA in Brighton Getty ABBA: Eurovision victory in pictures Abba congratulate each other in Brighton, after winning the Eurovision Song Contest PA ABBA: Eurovision victory in pictures ABBA during a photocall in London to promote their song 'Waterloo' before the Eurovision song contest PA ABBA: Eurovision victory in pictures Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Faltskog and Bjorn Ulvaeus posing at Waterloo railway station Getty ABBA: Eurovision victory in pictures Abba strolling hand in hand amongst the daffodils in Hyde Park Getty ABBA: Eurovision victory in pictures Abba after winning the Eurovision Song Contest in Brighton PA ABBA: Eurovision victory in pictures ABBA pose Getty ABBA: Eurovision victory in pictures Abba arriving at London Airport Getty

The statement continued: “It resulted in two new songs and one of them ‘I Still Have Faith In You’ will be performed by our digital selves in a TV special produced by NBC and the BBC aimed for broadcasting in December.

“We may have come of age, but the song is new. And it feels good.”

It signed off: “Agnetha, Benny, Bjorn, Anni-Frid - Stockholm, Sweden, 27 April 2018.”

The group’s manager Gorel Hanser also confirmed the news in a press release.

During a speech in Brussels on 25 April, singer Bjorn Ulvaeus, 72, revealed that virtual “Abbatars” are being created to represent the four members of the pop group of the upcoming digital tour, expected for 2019 or 2020.

They will be pictured as they looked during the height of their fame, with Ulvaeus saying: “We thought we looked good that year.”

“They photographed us from all possible angles, they made us grimace in front of cameras, they painted dots on our faces, they measured our heads,” he told broadcasting executives last week.

“Apparently a cranium doesn’t change with age the way the rest of your body falls apart.”