Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis "tried for months" to save their relationship.

The couple - who have children Lily-Rose, 13, and 10-year-old Jack together - confirmed yesterday that they had split after 14 years together, but friends admit they had tried for a long time to repair the cracks in their union.

"They've tried for months to save the relationship but have known for weeks that it couldn't be saved," a source told People.

Last week, Vanessa returned to her native France to promote her latest movie Je Me Suis Fait Tout Petit and the insider claims the announcement of the separation purposefully coincided with the trip. "It was all decided before she got on that plane," the insider added.