Zayn Malik and Perrie Edwards split: Former One Direction star ends engagement after two years

They were thought to have been one of pop's fairytale couples but Zayn Malik and Perrie Edwards have reportedly split.

Fresh reports claim the former One Direction singer ended their engagement after two years in July, leaving the Little Mix singer devastated. A source confirmed the news to the Mail Online, saying: "Perrie is absolutely devastated. Zayn called off the engagement two weeks ago, she's so upset.

"Perrie is being a trooper about it and putting on a brave face but she's devastated. She's doesn't know what he's thinking. She's going to go out and promote the new single but obviously the timing could not be worse, especially when she's going to be doing so many interviews."

Another source reveals Edwards, 22, is being supported by her Little Mix bandmates, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Jesy Nelson and Jade Thirlwall as she deals with the split. The insider said: "Perrie's being supported by her bandmates, but she's really in pieces about this."

The news will come as a surprise considering Malik, who proposed to the pop star in August 2013, is said to have quit One Direction in March to spend more time with his fiancee. His former bandmate, Liam Payne, said in May: "He wanted to go and spend some time with his family and missus."

Just days before Malik quit the band, his relationship was rocked by a cheating scandal after pictures emerged of him holding hands with holidaymaker Lauren Richardson in Thailand. The What Makes You Beautiful singer later declared his love for Edwards on Twitter, writing: "I'm 22 years old... I love a girl named Perrie Edwards. And there's a lot of jealous f***s in this world I'm sorry for what it looks like."

Edwards has stated on many occasions that the couple had not begun making wedding plans. Malik is currently busy launching his solo career after announcing in July that he had signed a deal with RCA Records.