Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin announce split

Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin have split after nearly 11 years of marriage, they have announced.

The online post was entitled "Conscious Uncoupling" but due to high volumes of traffic, the website was initially unavailable.

Read more: 'Conscious uncoupling' explained

The statement reads: "It is with hearts full of sadness that we have decided to separate."

"We have 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, and we have come to the conclusion that while we love each other very much, we will remain separate.

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

"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 coparent, we will be able to continue in the same manner."

The couple, who married in 2003, have two children together, daughter Apple, nine, and son Moses, seven.