Pet Shop Boys have had to deny rumours on social media that they were mugged at 'knifepoint' in Brazil recently - although Neil Tennant was the victim of a crime in Rio de Janeiro.

The pop legends, who played Dublin earlier this month, were in the South American country to play the 'Rock in Rio' festivals when reports in a Brazilian newspaper suggested that Neil Tennant and a member of their crew were attacked and mugged after being approached by four men, who took their phones and money.

The band took to Twitter to clear up the rumours - revealing that Tennant and the crew member, Pete Gleadall, had had their phones stolen after going for a walk on Leme Beach at around 8.30pm, but that there was no violent altercation.

"They had no knives," their UK PR told The Guardian. "Pete Gleadall had his phone stolen and reported it to the police. Neil had his phone stolen but didn’t report it. Pet Shop Boys are saying it wasn’t a big deal, and that it wasn’t violent and that phone theft is the most common crime in that area."