Cheryl Cole and Liam SPLIT after two and a half years together and say they'll share Bear's custody

Cheryl and Liam Payne announced that they had split

They called after two and a half years of resignation, revealing that they would share custody of their son Bear.

Both Liam, 24, and Cheryl, 35, announced to fans a joint statement to their Twitter accounts, saying that they were "sad" to be separated.

One Direction star, Liam, tweeted, "Cheryl and I are sad to announce that we are going to separate ourselves from us. It's a difficult decision to make for us.

" We have always a lot of love each for the other as a family. The bear is our world and we ask you to respect his privacy while we sail together through this path. "

There had been rumors growing that the pair were living separate lives with Liam going around the world to promote his solo material

Cheryl celebrated her 35th birthday party with her close friends and former friends of Girls Aloud, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh

It was reported that Liam had been to the United Kingdom but was not there.

A close friend of the couple said the split was friendly and that there was no third party involved.

The insider told the Sun that the breakup had been a "decision of the day". Reciprocal love "19659002]" They hear well and it was a e decision they made taking into account what is good for their son.

"But they are categorical, they will be the best possible parents to bear with both being in his life." Liam lives elsewhere but he still sees the Bear all the time. "