Lady Gaga has hit back at claims that she needs to take a break from performing on her Monster Ball world tour.

Speculation about the US singer’s health has been rife in recent months since she was taken ill before a gig in Indiana.

In March, there were also reports that the star collapsed towards the end of a performance in New Zealand.

However, addressing the claims during a performance in Sweden at the weekend, Lady Gaga said she had no plans to rest.

"You know when people say, 'Lady Gaga's really tired; she needs to take a break’,” she said.

“I just think about all those times I sang in bars when nobody was singing my lyrics. I'll sleep when I'm dead, OK?"

Lady Gaga made the statement, which was caught on YouTube video by a fan, while performing the song, ‘Speechless’.

The singer is due to return to the UK later this month for the second UK leg of her tour.

(by Jason Gregory)