[Arneldo]

Coldplay's announcement at last night's Brit Awards that they will be taking a break has signalled to many the end of the band completely.

Singer Chris Martin announced as the band were accepting their second award of the night for Best Album that: "This means so much to us, especially now. It's going to be a few years before you see us again."

He added: "People are fed up with us - and so are we."

Friends and sources are now claiming that Martin is putting the band on hold to spend more time with his wife Gwyneth Paltrow and their baby Apple. The couple are expecting another child in April.

The 28-year-old singer apparently later told Brits host Chris Evans: "You had a break, so are we."

Coldplay landed a record deal in 1999, and have recorded three award-winning LPs: Parachutes, A Rush of Blood to the Head and 2005's X & Y.