Sculptors in London's Madame Tussaud's museum were forced to break up a waxwork figure of Hollywood superstars Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston embracing each other following their separation last month.

"It involved quite a lot of work, because they were entwined and had their arms around each other," said museum spokeswoman Diane Moon on Monday. "Jen had one of her hands on Brad's chest and her other hand was resting on his bottom."

The procedure, which involved remoulding their arms, cost around 10,000 pounds and the separated figures have been put back on display with their backs to each other.

Pitt, one of Hollywood's leading stars, and Aniston, who became a household name on the television series Friends, were married in July 2000 and their entwined figure was installed in July 2004, after the museum decided they were a "safe couple".

The only other couple to be installed in the wax museum were actors Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, but they were separate figures.

Despite the cost of separation, Moon is hopeful the couple, who separated in January this year, will reunite.

"We would like them to get back together again because that would be a nice happy ending and we don't mind spending the money entwining them again," she said.