Music
Photorazzi / Arlene Richie
The four-piece have produced 14 number one singles since they started nine years ago, but have decided that they need a break from touring for a while.
Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan and Mark Feehily will finish touring with their current album Back Home before they start their break.
But Egan has insisted that they are not splitting up for good, telling The Sun: "The minute people hear we're taking a break, they are going to say we are splitting up for good - which is not true.
"Myself and Jodi (Albert) are going to go and do some travelling and I'm sure the other guys have plans as well.
"It will be the first time in years that there hasn't been a Westlife album vying for the Christmas number one, which will be a bit weird, but I think we have earned the time off."
He added: "We love Westlife and people still want to hear us, so we are not going anywhere. Why would we give that up?"
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