George Michael is planning to give fans a special Christmas gift by releasing a festive song on December 25th.

December Song (I Dreamed of Christmas) will get its first air play today and will be available for free download on Christmas Day.

The track has been written and produced by Michael and co-written with his friend David Austin.

It is the first festive-themed song from Michael since Wham's classic tune Last Christmas in 1984, which is played year after year come Christmas-time.

With its seasonal sound, the song became a global hit with enduring appeal and it's accompanying video, shot in the snowy landscapes of Switzerland, also proved popular.

Michael originally announced his plans to release a Christmas track to fans on the last night of his Final Two sell-out concerts at London's Earls Court in August.

At the time, Michael told fans that he would be leaving touring behind in order to pursue a quieter lifestyle.