Pete Doherty said The Libertines reunion is "potentially a f**king disaster".

The singer and guitarist, who fronted the band with Carl Barat until 2004 - when he was kicked out for drug problems, shortly before they split up - said although there is potential for the volatile group to argue, he can't wait for them to play together again at the Reading and Leeds festivals this year.

He told NME magazine: "Everything seems quite normal and natural. Everyone seems to be in quite good spirits. Let's see.

"To be honest, I've been chomping at the bit for a while now. Let's just f**king get on with it. Potentially it's a f**king disaster. It's a f**king tinder box waiting to go up."

"So I think we'll all just agree to be honest with each other. Basically to speak up if anything's happening no-one else agrees with.

"Rather than just wander off in silence and let everything get a bit messy and more complicated, just be honest."

The band have only agreed to play the festivals as a one-off event, and the shows promoter admits it was hard work getting the band - which also includes John Hassall and Gary Powell - to agree to perform.

Organiser Melvin Benn said: "It's been a lot of hard work as you would imagine getting the boys all back together in the same room. But they're absolutely committed to it. I think it's something that's so important for the British music fan."