Sayer released an album of his hits in Australia in 2008

Pop star Leo Sayer has become an Australian citizen, saying the country has given him a new lease of life.

The Sussex-born singer, who had a string of hits in the 1970s, moved there in 2005.

In 2007, he famously walked out of Celebrity Big Brother after a row over fresh underwear.

Sayer took his citizenship oath in front of Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at a special ceremony on national holiday Australia Day.

'Encouraging'

The curly-haired crooner topped the UK singles chart with When I Need You in 1977.

In 2006, he made a surprise return to the number one spot in the UK singles chart with Meck's remix of Thunder In My Heart.

He has also appeared in Australian TV comedy Stupid, Stupid Man.

He said: "I'm 60 and I feel like a 20-year-old at the moment in my life here, because everyone is so much encouraging me to keep working and everything.

"In the old country, England, it would have been, 'Sorry, you're from the 70s and that's it.'"

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