The striker was one of the famous names to regularly update on the popular website, which allows users to post notes about what's going on in their daily lives.

Fans flocked to follow the Black Cats hitman – nicknamed DBTheTruth on Twitter – to get the inside track on his world.

Bent also famously used Twitter to reveal his frustration about delays in his move to Sunderland last summer, and his torment about vile racial abuse aimed at his mother before November's game at Wigan.

But as his club goes to third-top Arsenal on Saturday searching for its first win in THREE months (since beating the Gunners at the Stadium of Light in November), the £10million record signing wants to focus on arresting Sunderland's slump.

Bent told the Echo: "I had a good chat with the manager recently and I just thought that, with the run we're on at the moment, I needed to get rid of the distractions.

"I have to solely focus on getting Sunderland out of the relegation battle and I have shut the Twitter down.

"I don't even go on it any more to look at what other people are posting.

"My friends are still on there and they keep me up to date.

"I felt that, for me, it's run its course and I should get out of it."

Bent's F-word rant at the Spurs hierarchy on Twitter and his message of disgust about the verbal attack on his mum at Wigan also made national news.

The 16-goal Sunderland striker said: "I first went on Twitter when I was in America with some friends a year or so ago. It was already big over there and my friends got me into it.

"When I came back home, not too many people were on it in this country, but it has been picked up and I got a lot of positive feedback from people on Twitter.

"I've not stepped back because anything that's been said on Twitter to me or about me.

"People were writing stories in the papers about me from what I put on Twitter – there was a lot made of it.

"It became a distraction I didn't need. I thought I would fully concentrate on the football."

Bent's decision was backed by manager Steve Bruce, who said: "I don't really know my way around all this blogging and twittering stuff and the only thing I use my mobile phone for is to make calls!

"But I think it's the right decision by Darren. I think when things aren't going too well for your team especially, it's a good thing to be seen to be focusing entirely on your football."

* Sunderland Reserves visit Manchester City tonight, with a 7pm kick-off at Hyde United.