Keith Richards has dashed rumours that the Rolling Stones have retired from the road by revealing that the group are planning a tour for 2011.

Talking to BBC 6 Music, the 66-year-old said: "Everybody's ready to go out there again. Who said it should stop, and who said when?

"Only we will know when it comes to an end, with a crashing halt," he added.

The rumours of the legendary group’s retirement stemmed from health problems that postponed several dates on The Stones’ last – and extremely lucrative, pulling in £344m ($558m) – world tour.

Richards is in the middle of promoting his controversial new tell-all autobiography ‘Life’ and at the launch of the book, Richards told BBC that the group is even preparing to step back into the studio.

"After these many years working together, we have a lot of unfinished stuff to work on that we had to leave off the last album.

"And knowing Mick, as I do, he's a very prolific writer. I have ideas [too] and we'll put them together in December or January.

"We're looking forward to working."

Listen to the Rolling Stones' most recent single, April 2010's 'Plundered My Soul', below: