Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow to split

Exeter's Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and his Hollywood wife Gwyneth Paltrow are to separate after more than 10 years of marriage, the couple have announced.

Ms Paltrow, 41, and Mr Martin, 37, announced the split on her blog.

"It is with hearts full of sadness that we have decided to separate," the actress wrote.

In the message on her blog Goop.com, the Iron Man actress said the couple had "come to the conclusion that while we love each other very much, we will remain separate".

The couple said they had been "working hard for well over a year, some of it together, some of it separated, to see what might have been possible between us".

"We are, however, and always will be a family, and in many ways we are closer than we have ever been," they wrote.

"We are parents first and foremost, to two incredibly wonderful children and we ask for their and our space and privacy to be respected at this difficult time.

"We have always conducted our relationship privately, and we hope that as we consciously uncouple and co-parent, we will be able to continue in the same manner."

A spokeswoman for the Coldplay frontman confirmed the split.

The pair, who married in December 2003, have two children.