Kaiser Chiefs co-founder Nick Hodgson has announced his departure from the band after 15 years.

Hodgson - who formed the British Indie group with singer Ricky Wilson and guitarist Andrew White - took to social networking site Twitter to confirm to fans that he's quit the group on a high.

He wrote: "I can confirm I have left Kaiser Chiefs after 15 spectacular years. I'm moving on. I wish the rest of the band the very best!"

Hodgson's bandmates also posted words of support, with bassist Simon Rix writing: "Good luck to Nick with his plans. I can exclusively confirm we will still be collaborating on pints in pubs."

Frontman Wilson added: "The door is on the latch and the key under the mat."