Reports are circulating that Britpop survivors The Verve have split up for a third time.

The Sunday Mirror reports that a “source” said that rest of the band had become increasingly distanced from singer Richard Ashcroft. "As far as Nick and Simon are concerned the Verve no longer exists... they think Richard was just using the reunion as a vehicle to get his solo career on track”, the source reported.

Guitarist Nick McCabe had previously announced that the band were on 'holiday' in a blog entry on his Myspace page in April. "The Verve seem to be on holiday and show no sign of not being on holiday”, he wrote.

McCabe and bass player Simon Jones have also formed a new band, The Black Ships, with the recording of their debut album already well under way.

The band has split up twice before, initially in 1996 and then in 1999. However, the Wigan band reformed in 2007, releasing an album 'Forth' and headlined the Glastonbury Festival the following year.

(by Andrew Almond)