Paris HiltonParis Hilton has finished with boyfriend of nine months Benji Madden according to a range of sources close to the socialite.

Rumours of a rift between the previously loved-up couple began to swirl at the weekend after Paris was spotted flirting with her on-off boyfriend Stavros Niarchos at a nightclub in Miami, then back in Los Angeles, Paris and Benji were spotted partying separately on Tuesday night.

Now sources close to the pair have confirmed they’re through: “It’s definitely over.

“Paris thinks the world of Benji, but it wasn’t meant to be. For now it’s over… but there’s still a lot of feeling there.

“She’s spent a lot of time in Britain and other places lately and they have grown apart. She’s going to enjoy being single for a while.”

A second source told Us Weekly: “Benji was overprotective and controlling. He doesn’t get along with any of her friends. Friends thought Paris had changed since being with Benji and she wants to be herself again.”

And Vanessa Fontana, a contestant on reality show Paris Hilton: My New BFF told Life & Style magazine: “Sadly, it’s true. Paris and Benji have split. I love Paris, and I just want her to be happy. I think that they’ll be better as friends.”

But she insists: “Nobody else is involved [in the break-up]. Paris and Benji were loyal and faithful to each other.

“I was with Paris in Miami, and Stavros came over to our table, and the two of them talked for literally two minutes. It was a friendly conversation. They definitely did not hook up.”

Paris and Benji constantly gushed about each other during their time together and hinted they were planning to marry and have children in the near future but a third source added: “They’re just too different and they wanted different things in life. He was loyal and sweet but it was time to take a break. They will be friends forever.”