Former Blur frontman Damon Albarn's opera Monkey: Journey To The West, will now run in London into the New Year, it's been announced.

The opera will continue at the Meridian Gardens, which are adjacent to the O2 Arena, until January 4th.

The production has proved hugely popular with critics and fans alike since it opened last month.

Albarn and Gorillaz collaborator Jamie Hewlett originally premiered the opera in Manchester last year.

(by Jason Gregory)