POP star Madonna and her husband Guy Ritchie are to divorce, it has been confirmed.

A statement issued jointly by their repsentatives on Wednesday afternoon said: "Madonna and Guy Ritchie have agreed to divorce after seven-and-a-half years of marriage, their representatives confirmed today.

"They have both requested that the media maintain respect for their family at this difficult time."

Film director Ritchie, 40, and Madonna married seven years ago at a lavish ceremony in Scotland and bought a stately home near Tollard Royal on the Dorset-Wiltshire border.

But rumours have been circulating within the press that their relationship was increasingly under strain.

The Sun had reported that a recent escalation in rows has led to Madonna and Ritchie communicating via their personal assistants.

The paper reported that Madonna had wanted to wait until the end of her Sticky and Sweet global tour before announcing the split.

But the date has now been brought forward with both parties wanting a divorce finalised before Christmas, it claimed.

It has been reported that Ritchie will now move out of the couple's London home and move into the mansion near Tollard Royal.