Madonna and Guy Ritchie have settled their eight-month-long custody battle over their son Rocco. A court spokesperson confirmed the news and Guy’s lawyer later revealed that 16-year-old Rocco will continue to live with his father in the UK.

The director’s attorney released the following statement: "Guy Ritchie is delighted to have this case behind him. Everybody in the family is happy that an agreement has been reached and Rocco can continue to live with his father in London."

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The contentious custody battle began in December, when Rocco remained in London with Guy after visiting the UK on Madonna's world tour. The teenager then refused to return to the US with his mother for Christmas, and the matter was turned over to the courts.

In December, a judge ruled that Rocco should be returned to his mother's custody, but did not issue a warrant to enforce the order. Despite the ruling, Rocco chose to remain in London, where he is now also enrolled at a school.

In March, Madonna and Guy were told by New York Supreme Court Justice Deborah Kaplan to get the matter resolved quickly.

"Frankly, both parties have chosen to live their lives in a very public way and may welcome publicity, but the child has not," she said in court. "He would like this matter resolved and the issues concerning him and his family in the most private way possible."

Ms Kaplan added: "No one is disrupting his household other than the inability of his parents to reach a resolution. If they cannot resolve this matter then eventually the court will."

A court-appointed lawyer for Rocco confirmed that the dispute was causing him distress. "It's been a very difficult time for him," she said. "We hope to put an end to this as soon as possible without exposing him to more litigation, press innuendo, any of that kind of thing."

Guy and Madonna divorced in 2008. Since then, the British film director has remarried, tying the knot with model Jacqui Ainsley last year, and the couple have three children together.