Ireland on Sunday, 9th Jan 2005.

Brian McFadden has claimed that he and Australian singer Delta Goodrem are now 'an item' - and that he ended his relationship with ex-wife Kerry because he had fallen in love with the former soap actress.

The former Westlife star revealed that telling the mother of his two young children that he loved the Australian star was one of the hardest things he has ever had to do.

He told an English Sunday newspaper: "I'm in love with Delta. Telling Kerry was the hardest conversation of my life"

McFadden, 24, says he fell in love with Goodrem last month. The couple - who sing a duet on McFadden's debut solo album, Irish Son, met at the Royal Variety Show in London.

They recently met up again for a two-week holiday in Cape Town. McFadden said: "I'm young and I have my own life. Delta and I are an item".