Ananova:

Jack White says the White Stripes are to record a new album and will not be splitting in the near future.

He told the NME that songs were currently being written for the follow-up to Elephant and the duo could be back in the studio as early as next month.

When asked about persistent rumours about the group's future, he said: "Well, we'll know when it's over. I don't think we're going to last ten years, I don't think Stripes will last 20 years.

"It's not that kind of a band where we have five or six guys, kick the bass player out and get a new member.

"It's only going to be me and her (Meg) in the band. At some point we'll stop, but we've no plans to now at all. I've got a lot of ideas for records for us coming up and the time off has been really re-inspiring."