Pop band Take That are to split. Singer-songwriter Gary Barlow confirmed this afternoon that they were going their separate ways.

The split will happend fter the release of their next single and album.

"Thanks for everybody's support in the last five years. You've been absolutely fantastic,'' he said at a news conference.

"How Deep is Your Love is going to be our last single together and the greatest hits is to be our last album.

"From today, it's no more.''

The announcement puts an end to intense speculation about the future of the best-selling "boy band''.

Anguished fans have been bombarding their record company switchboard since press reports that the biggest-selling group in Britain were to split emerged yesterday.

The four stars are to go their separate ways after five years together, seven number one singles and massive success.

Take That have been dogged by rumours of splits and disagreements since last summer when Robbie Williams left.