The Beautiful South Split after 19 years

Pop group The Beautiful South - known for such melodious hits as Song For Whoever, A Little Time, Perfect 10 and Rotterdam - have split.

In a two-line statement, the Hull-based band, formed by former members of the Housemartins, attributed their break-up to "musical similarities".

"The band would like to thank everyone for their 19 wonderful years in music," the statement said.

The band's last album Superbi reached number six in the UK album chart.

But their most recent single - 2006's The Rose of My Cologne - barely bothered the singles chart, peaking at 99.