Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody has defended the group after they were described as “the most boring band in Britain” by Nicky Wire.

Lightbody said The Manic Street Preachers bassist “earned the right” to say what he wanted about the band - but suggested Wire had got his description slightly wrong.

"He's a rock God, so more power to him,” Lightbody said of the bass player. “We only seem dull on the surface.

"Jonny (Quinn) fights fires. Tom (Simpson) toils shirtless on construction sites, Paul (Wilson) is in the Navy Reserve.

“Nathan (Connolly) is a volunteer policeman and I explore my Cherokee ancestry. We're like the Village People, only slightly less gay."

In a wide-ranging interview with the Daily Record, Lightbody also spoke out against people's criticism of Snow Patrol.

"'Chasing Cars' was an inescapable hit worldwide. People think of us as that band with that song on 'Grey's Anatomy' and decide to hate us,” he said.

“One review said our fourth album would 'keep Ford Focus drivers happy,' meaning our music appeals to average blokes, not hipsters," he said.

"I have never understood the connection between us and Coldplay, as much as I like their music."

(by Jason Gregory)