The Wurzels write song using artificial intelligence

Folk band The Wurzels have released a new single written by artificial intelligence (AI) called Wurzel Me Up.

The Somerset band, best known for songs such as The Combine Harvester and I Am A Cider Drinker, said they had decided to use the technology as they had not written a song for a while.

Singer Pete Budd, 84, said: "We realised that it was a long time since we had written a new pop tune. We needed some 'cutting-hedge' technology."

The band's longest-serving member, Tommy Banner, 85, added: "We decided to explore this new artificial world to see if it could help us analyse our catalogue of Wurzel songs and give us some lyrical inspiration for a new release."

Budd added he realised there were "genuine concerns" with AI over plagiarism and copyright issues.

He added: "We don't agree with plagiarism in any form without some form of remuneration and so, in this case, we have strived to only plagiarise ourselves."

Formed in 1966, the band have had eight UK hit singles and three UK top 40 albums.

The Combine Harvester reached the top of the UK singles chart in May 1976, while follow-up, I Am A Cider Drinker, reached number three in the same year.

The band is currently made up of Budd and Banner with bass player Sedge Moore, keyboard player Louie Gribble and drummer Leigh Delamere.

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