The patter of tiny feet has stopped Fatal Joy's musical plans in their tracks. Sarah is on maternity leave and partner Wilkie is taking time out to fulfil fatherly duties.

The couple plan to return in spring to rehearse a new set with fellow Fatalists Jason and Kath. Jason will meanwhile write new songs as well as perform with Kath as an acoustic duo.

Sarah's baby arrived three months prematurely, forcing the Keighley band to cancel gigs planned to promote its new album. Plans for follow-up singles - As Much As You next month and Can't Cry Any Harder in May - have also been put on hold.

Instead the Fatalists are likely to re-record a favourite track from the first album as the next single. It will be accompanied by a second album, this time recorded with more polish than the first.

Jason says: "We recorded 13 songs in eight hours for the first album. It was more a representation of what we can do live."

When they return to the live circuit, the Fatalists are likely to boast a new keyboard player in their line-up.

And Jason hopes the sound will have moved away from "acoustic" songs to the Jesus Jones style he originally intended.