Paris Hilton’s spokesperson has confirmed that the socialite has split from boyfriend of nine months, Benji Madden.

Rumours about the couple’s split began circulating at the weekend after Paris was spotted flirting with former on-off boyfriend Stavros Niarchos in a Miami nightclub and sources close to the pair reported they’d definitely broken up.

Now Paris’ spokesperson has confirmed the news but added that the pair will “remain very good friends” and are still committed to ringing in New Year together, hosting and DJing at an event in Sydney, Australia.

As the split rumours intensified, Paris was spotted out on the town on both Tuesday and Wednesday nights this week - but onlookers claim the break-up was clearly affecting her.

A fellow diner at Murano Restaurant and Lounge in West Hollywood on Wednesday reports: “Paris had a fairly low-key and relaxed dinner with a close girlfriend.”

But later on, by the time Paris had reached Crown Bar around midnight: “Hilton looked distraught and completely lonesome. She wasn’t her usual prim and proper self.

“Her friends were trying to talk to her, and it looked like she was making an effort to talk with all of them even though you could tell she didn’t feel like partying.

“[She was] way more reserved and distracted, like her mind was elsewhere. She was trying very hard to appear carefree, but it was clear she didn’t want to be there and was waiting for the right moment to make her exit.”