Ed Sheeran insists he would never date Taylor Swift as he wouldn't want to "spoil" their friendship.

The two stars have forged a solid friendship and following Swift's split from One Direction's Harry Styles, it was reported that they has embarked on a romantic relationship.

Sheeran insist the pair have never been anything more than friends, as he wouldn't want to ruin their companionship.

Speaking to British newspaper The Sun he explained: “You don’t have to bang a girl just because she’s your friend. It’s not a necessity.

He added: “So that’s why I’d never go there with her. I wouldn’t want to spoil things.”

Sheeran recently confessed he enjoyed the attention he received from the romantic rumours though.

He said: "My mates are texting me being like 'is it true?' so I said it wasn't but the fact that people can believe it makes me feel like a bit of a stud, you know? I've got to be honest because one of my best friends did date her. I'm not that kind of guy. But the fact that people believed it impressed me a little bit."

Sheeran is currently supporting Swift on her RED tour.