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The Pigeon Detectives have begun writing new material to be included on their forthcoming third album.

Following a six month break spent at home in Leeds the five-piece have started demoing tracks for the follow up to last year's Emergency.

They say they hope the LP will be released in May 2010.

Of their recent absence Matt Bowman said: "We've taken the time off to just chill out and remember what it's like not to live on a tour bus. Played a bit of golf, caught up with all our old mates."

The Yorkshire band decided to take a break after their second album was released just a year after their debut.

"We just worked our socks off for two or three years so Christmas time last year we decided to give ourselves a break and enjoy a bit of time at home with our families," added Bowman.

"I've just brought a dog and we're cracking on with the third album.

"My dog is called Harry. He's a beagle. He's a very naughty boy, he's a good dog."

Bowman and Wilson were speaking before headlining this year's Underage Festival in London's Victoria Park - a gig they say will be their last in the UK of the year.

Demoing sessions for the album have already begun with Bowman explaining they're now "chomping at the bit" to start recording.

"We're trying to write as many as we can so that we've got a bit of catalogue to choose from when we actually want to record," outlined Wilson.

"I wouldn't say it's anything abstract or anything but it's taking a little bit of a different shape to what we've really done in the past."

"We always tend to, when we're writing a record, revert back to our musical origins," says Bowman. "The Beatles, New York guitar bands, Led Zeppelin."

"You kind of immerse yourself in things that got you into music in the first place. I mean I'm not slagging new music off at the moment but there are just no bands that have captured my imagination recently."