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Tom Petty has issued a statement after it emerged that Sam Smith had awarded him royalties on his hit single Stay With Me.

After Smith insisted that similarities between his song and Petty’s tune I Won't Back Down are a "complete coincidence”, the veteran rocker has now broken his silence over the whole saga.

[related]Writing on his website, Tom explained: “About the Sam Smith thing. Let me say I have never had any hard feelings toward Sam. All my years of songwriting have shown me these things can happen.

“Most times you catch it before it gets out the studio door but in this case it got by. Sam’s people were very understanding of our predicament and we easily came to an agreement.”

He went on: “The word lawsuit was never even said and was never my intention. And no more was to be said about it.

"How it got out to the press is beyond Sam or myself. Sam did the right thing and I have thought no more about this."

Petty concluded:“A musical accident no more no less. In these times we live in this is hardly news. I wish Sam all the best for his ongoing career. Peace and love to all."