Madonna and Guy recruit marriage counsellor

Madonna and Guy Ritchie have recruited a marriage guidance counsellor to help them to save their relationship.

The celebrity couple have approached top therapist Tricia Barnes after struggling to cope with the controversy surrounding their adoption of African orphan David Banda.

A source told The People: "The marriage is near rock-bottom. They've been putting on a united front in public but behind closed doors their marriage has come under strain. The publicity surrounding the adoption has created a difficult atmosphere in their London home.

"But they are determined to make the marriage work and after a long heart-to-heart they both decided to seek the help of a marriage guidance specialist."