U2 have launched a bid to save the London recording studio where they recorded their new album, according to reports.

The band are said to be keen to acquire Olympic Studios, which were recently put up for sale by owners EMI, after they proved inspiration for their new material.

The studio, in Barnes, have been used in the past by the likes of Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix.

“Bono, The Edge and the rest of the band really enjoyed their time in Olympic. They knuckled down and really responded well to the place’s atmosphere,” a source told The Sun newspaper.

“They already have their own studios in Dublin but feel that Olympic could be a very wise investment.

“They’re totting up some figures at the moment. If the maths works out there’s every chance they’ll put an offer in.”

The Rolling Stones were one of the first bands to use the studios when they moved to Barnes in 1966.

Led Zeppelin recorded their first album at the studios in 1968 and returned there to record tracks which featured on all of their proceeding releases.

U2 release their new album, 'No Line On The Horizon', in March.

(by Jason Gregory)