Adam Ant has been sectioned.

The 'Prince Charming' hitmaker - who suffers from bipolar disorder - has been hospitalised under the mental health act weeks after a series of troubled public appearances, including aiming a tirade of abuse at Christians during a charity performance.

A message sent to fans by the star - real name Stuart Goddard - read: "Ant fans - please send me postcards at the Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, Fulham Road. Please don't come down here as it may upset the staff who have been really pleasant. I am having a well earned rest at Her Majesty's Pleasure and am painting and continuing being an art student. I have a great view and am considering gigs later in the year."

According to an Adam & The Ants fansite, the singer was sectioned after an unspecified incident on Tuesday evening (18.05.10).

The 55-year-old star stunned fans in Portsmouth, South East England, last week when he invited a four-year-old boy up on stage and began to teach him the words to The Who's 'My Generation', before screaming obscenities at frustrated fans who tried to leave the show, singling out Christians, who he told to "f**k off".

In 2002, Adam hit the headlines when he threatened drinkers in a London bar with an imitation pistol, but escaped jail on mental health grounds.

He was sectioned in September 2003 after a dispute with a neighbour, where he threatened to smash in his doors with a shovel and was eventually found naked in a cafe basement.

Adam - who has been hospitalised several times - recently declared his intention to resume performing for the sake of his 12-year-old daughter Lily, insisting he had overcome his problems.

He said: "Lily has never seen Adam perform and doesn't know what The Ants were all about.

"I've had this life-long battle against manic depression, but I've had to overcome it for her sake. Times got bad. I lost my mind. But I'm back."