OFFICIAL: Cheryl and Ashley split - statement released

Just hours after the star landed back in the UK, Cheryl's management release an official statement

Just hours after Cheryl Cole touched down in the UK, her management has released an official statement confirming her split with Ashley.

SEE CHERYL AND ASHLEY DURING HAPPIER TIMES

Released just minutes ago, the message from Cheryl's PR company Supersonic was sent via Twitter.

Tweeting an initial message telling followers: ‘Official statement about Cheryl Cole is to follow,' the company released a statement shortly afterwards.

Just minutes later, the news was officially confirmed in a message which read: ‘Cheryl Cole is separating from her husband Ashley Cole. Cheryl asks the media to respect her privacy during this difficult time.'

The company was undoubtedly inundated with a flood of responses, which led them to follow up with another short Tweet: ‘We have no further comment to make.'

Cheryl has spent the last week holed up in LA mulling over her options, following fresh allegations of her husband's infidelity.

But after deciding there was no way to save her shattered marriage, the star boarded a plane back to Britain, reportedly cancelling a promotional trip to the Netherlands.

Cheryl was greeted by a sea of frenzied paparazzi as she rushed through the airport flanked by her burly security guards.

Meanwhile, just minutes before Mrs Cole arrived in the country, Ashley was seen leaving their marital home in the back of a chauffeur-driven car.

Friends of the star told the Daily Mirror: ‘Her parting words were ‘You have lied and lied and lied. I'll see you around.''

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