Cheryl Cole is leaving the country to get away from Ashley

Monday, 11 February 2008

Cheryl Cole is taking a month's break from her cheating husband to see if their marriage is worth saving.

The Girls Aloud beauty - who was left devastated by claims soccer star Ashley had cheated on her with several women - jetted out to Thailand with bandmates Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts last week for a much-needed holiday.

A source said: "Cheryl needs a clean break. She's been in pieces over this and needs time to decide what her next step will be."

Following the break, the girls will fly to the US to meet up with the group's other members, Sarah Harding and Nadine Coyle, to shoot a new TV show.

Cheryl, 24, who had initially vowed to stand by Ashley, has allegedly smashed her mobile phone so the soccer star can't get hold of her.

A friend added: "It's bad enough for any couple trying to sort out their marriage problems. But when she's flown off to Thailand without him and there are rumours she's smashed up her phone - what chance do they have? It's almost like a trial separation."

However, Cheryl's spokesman has insisted the pair remain committed to saving their marriage.

He said: "This is not a trial separation. The TV show in America was a project that's been on the cards for Girls Aloud for a while and it needs to be filmed for its schedule broadcast at the end of the month."

The couple's 18-month marriage was put into jeopardy last month, when hairdresser Aimee Walton claimed she bedded Ashley after a drunken night out last December.

The 22-year-old single mother also claimed Ashley had offered to pay for an abortion when she had a pregnancy scare.

Two more girls then came forward claiming they had also slept with Ashley while he had been with Cheryl, but had been paid to keep quiet.