Girls Aloud confirm split after last night of UK tour

The group performed their final show at Liverpool's Echo Arena

Girls Aloud have announced they are splitting up following the last night of their 10-year celebration tour.

A tweet from the band's official account on Wednesday night said: "We have now come to the end of our incredible time together."

The message was sent shortly after the five singers came off stage.

The performance in Liverpool marked their last performance together as a group. Girls Aloud formed after appearing on Popstars: The Rivals.

The five-piece - Kimberley Walsh, Cheryl Cole, Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding and Nicola Roberts - made their first live appearance on the show on 19 October 2002.

The band reunited for the 12-date UK tour after spending three years on solo projects. Six more dates were added to the initial schedule.

Their greatest hits album Ten charted at number nine when it was released in December 2012.

The tweet said: "Dear Alouders, we just want to say from the bottom of our hearts Thank you!!

"This tour has been an amazing experience and the perfect chance to say thank you for being on this journey with us through a decade.

"It has far exceeded any of our dreams and we hope we are forever your inspiration and reminder that dreams really do glitter!!

"Your love and support will stay with us forever but we have now come to the end of our incredible time together. Love you lots."

Look back at pictures of Girls Aloud's career

'More tears'

Cheryl Cole also tweeted after the gig: "To the people that haven't been able to make it, for what ever reason, we feel your support regardless and have done for 10 yrs.."

Nadine Coyle tweeted before going on stage: "I have seen you many of you at the tour work as hard as us! That is why I cried last night on stage & probably tonight again. Not sad, happy.

"Happy tears. I cannot thank you enough. I love seeing all your faces. Ok more tears. I love you all forever. Xxxxx NC."

Girls Aloud met the Queen at November's Royal Variety Performance

However, she later appeared to say that it wasn't her decision to split the group up.

She said: "You should know by now I had no part in any of this split business. I couldn't stop them. I had the best time & want to keep going. Xxxx."

Following the release of their album Out Of Control, the girls took a break in 2009 to work on their own projects.

Cheryl Cole released three solo albums while Nadine Coyle, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh have all put out solo material.

Walsh, who starred in the London West End theatre production of Shrek, also took part in the 2012 series of Strictly Come Dancing, reaching the final.

Sarah Harding turned her attentions to acting, starring in films like Bad Day and St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold. She also spent time in a treatment centre in 2011 for depression and alcohol addiction.

According to the Official Charts Company, Girls Aloud were UK's biggest-selling girl group of the 21st Century.

Their debut single, Sound Of The Underground, was their most popular selling more than 653,000 copies in the UK.

They went on to score 20 consecutive top 10 hits between 2002 and 2009.

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