Ed Sheeran has written ''50 songs'' for his third album.

The 'Thinking Out Loud' hitmaker is already hard at work on his next album following the success of his second studio LP 'x' last year, even though he doesn't want to release the collection until the end of 2016 at the earliest.

He said: ''I've done 40 - maybe more like 50 songs already, and I'm not planning to release it for another year and a half, so I want to do a few more.''

The 24-year-old singer/songwriter has sold out shows around the world including three nights at London's Wembley Stadium since he unveiled his last record so confessed he's feeling ''pressure'' to live up to people's high expectations because he doesn't want to be a disappointment.

He continued: ''Because there's even more pressure now for this album. When you have a whole company depending on one thing, if I don't release the goods, it's going to be awkward.''

However, Ed - who is rumoured to be dating Irish model Louise Johnston - insisted he will take a well-earned break before he finalises his next album.

He told the Daily Star newspaper: ''But I haven't taken a break in between the first and second albums. We've been touring for five years without a break. I actually want to go and live in the house that I bought because I haven't lived in it yet.''