Rolling Stones 'planning farewell tour'

The Rolling Stones are planning to embark upon a farewell tour next year, according to reports.

Sources close to the band told The Sun that the series of worldwide concerts, which had been speculated about since November, would likely be the final chapter of their phenomenal career.

"They're likely to perform in stadiums," the insider said. "It's almost certainly the last full-scale world tour.

"The band realise that age is creeping up on them. They want to bow out on top of their game, and not short-change their fans."

The tour will also reportedly run into 2012, marking 50 years since the group's formation. They last performed together on the 'Bigger Bang' tour between 2005 and 2007, which became the highest-grossing concert series of all time, taking in over $558 million (£361 million).