Katie Melua entered the Guinness Book Of Records after performing the world’s deepest underwater concert yesterday afternoon. The singer played two gigs 303 metres below sea level for workers on the Statoil Troll A Platform gas rig in the North Sea.

Melua had to undergo stringent medical tests and survival training in Bergen in Norway before flying by helicopter to the rig. She commented afterwards: ‘This was definitely the most surreal gig I have ever done. ‘The planning behind the concert has been like a military operation. The band, crew and I were put through rigorous training to ensure our safety, including escaping from a submerging cockpit and plunging into the sea in an inflatable life raft.

‘It took nine minutes to go from the main part of the gas platform down to the bottom of the shaft in a lift. Every camera had a fire safety officer next to it to monitor the gas level in case the battery sparked an explosion. Giving a concert to the workers there was something really extraordinary and an occasion that I will remember all my life.’

The concert was held to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Statoil and was filmed for broadcast on Norwegian TV.