Backing up earlier rumours, an inside source has revealed that Girls Aloud are planning to split after their Greatest Hits tour and festival appearances this summer.

The source told the News of the World: “The band will finish this year and all the girls are focusing on what they want to do next.”

“They all feel they’ve done their time in a pop band and have taken it as far as they can go.”

“Like the Spice Girls, they won’t announce they’ve split, just that they have ‘taken a break’.”

The band formed five years ago as part of reality talent show Popstars: The Rivals but now have other plans. Sarah Harding and Nadine Coyle have both expressed acting ambitions - Sarah has said she’s love to be a Bond girl while Nadine is reportedly keen to crack Hollywood to be close to LA based boyfriend Jesse Metcalfe.

According to the newspaper, Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts both have plans to work behind scenes in the music business, leaving Cheryl Cole the only member of the group to pursue a solo career.