Manics: We are not splitting up

James Dean Bradfield has denied rumours that the Manic Street Preachers are splitting up.

The frontman also added that the band are currently writing for a new album.

Bradfield has a forthcoming solo album, entitled The Great Western, due for release later this month, and bassist Nicky Wire is also writing a solo record.

But he insists that this other activity does not equate to a Manics split. He told the BBC: "It would take a hell of a lot for us to split up at any point in the future. But we have taken a brief hiatus, we committed to not releasing anything for two years because we realised we had been in a band for 21 years.

"After finishing the tour we felt we deserved to take a break, get some perspective and then make the next Manics album is as good as we can make it."