The Saturdays
The way they were: All members of The Saturdays Getty

Despite denying the release of their Greatest Hits album was the beginning of the end, it looks like The Saturdays may be calling it quits, albeit temporarily.

According to sources close to the British girl group, Una Foden, Mollie King and Vanessa White are preparing to release solo material while they take a hiatus from the band.

"Una, Mollie and Vanessa are all really excited and a bit nervous about releasing their solo material, but it's been a long time in the pipeline," an insider told the Mirror.

"The girls are still a band, but they're all happy to work on their own solo projects. It means there's no animosity or frustration between them – it's a set-up which works really well."

The site reports that while mum-of-two Foden is the closest to securing a solo record deal thanks to her effortless acoustic sound, all three ladies have chosen to take their music in a new direction.

White, 25, is said to be aiming to release an r'n'b album and King is reportedly drawing inspiration from Britney Spears for her pop/dance material.

Although their other bandmates Rochelle Humes and Frankie Bridge have not been in the studio working on music, they have also been keeping busy. Humes, 26, is focusing on her TV and presenting work and Bridge, 26, is expecting her second child with footballer husband Wayne Bridge.

In March, King hinted the group – who formed in 2007 – had separate projects in the pipeline, telling the Irish Independent the band will "be recording another album after Christmas so we are doing our own things this year".