When I try to Serialize a class to an xml file I get the exception: The process cannot access the file 'C:\settings.xml' because it is being used by another process.

Settings currentSettings = new Settings();

public void LoadSettings()
    {
        //Load Settings from XML file
        try
        {
            Stream stream = File.Open("settings.xml", FileMode.Open);
            XmlSerializer s = new XmlSerializer(typeof(Settings));
            currentSettings = (Settings)s.Deserialize(stream);
            stream.Close();
        }
        catch //Can't read XML - use default settings
        {
            currentSettings.Name = GameSelect.Items[0].ToString();
            currentSettings.City = MapSelect.Items[0].ToString();
            currentSettings.Country = RaceSelect.Items[0].ToString();
        }
    }
    public void SaveSettings()
    {
        //Save Settings to XML file
        try
        { 
            Stream stream = File.Open("settings.xml", FileMode.Create);
            XmlSerializer x = new XmlSerializer(typeof(Settings));
            x.Serialize(stream, currentSettings);
            stream.Close();
        }
        catch
        {
            MessageBox.Show("Unable to open XML File - File in use by other process");
        }

It appears that when I Deserialize it locks the file for writing back, even if I closed the stream.

Thanks in advance.