The Long Blondes have split up after four years together, guitarist Dorian Cox has revealed.

Cox said they had been “forced to call it a day” after he suffered a stroke in June. “I do not know when / if I will be well enough to play guitar again,” he added.

The Long Blondes cancelled a number of showsduring the summer, including their appearance at Glastonbury, because of Cox's illness.

In a statement, Cox, the band's chief song writer, thanked fans for their loyal support and the well wishes he had received over recent months.

“On behalf of the band I'd like to say a big thank you to anyone who ever came to one of our shows, bought one of our records or danced to one of our songs in a club,” he wrote.

“Thank you, if it wasn't for you the whole thing would have been pointless.”

The Long Blondes' two studio albums, 2006's 'Someone To Drive You Home' and this year's “Couples”, were both popular on the indie charts.

(by Jason Gregory)