Dominic West and wife Catherine FitzGerald say their 'marriage is strong' after photos emerge of the actor kissing Lily James

Dominic West, 50, and his wife Catherine FitzGerald, 49, have put on an affectionate display for photographers outside their home.

It comes days after photos were published showing The Affair star appearing to kiss actress Lily James, 31, in Rome over the weekend.

Responding to reports the couple had split, the pair put a handwritten note up outside their house in Wiltshire, UK around 10.30am saying, "Our marriage is strong and we're very much still together. Thank you."

The couple happily kissed for the cameras as they put on a defiant display to put an end to rumours they had separated after 10 years of marriage and four children.

West and Fitzgerald dated while West was studying English Literature at Trinity College in Dublin, but split up after university.

They later got back together and became engaged in 2007, marrying in 2010.

The pair share daughters Dora, 13, and Christabel, seven, and sons Senan, 12, and Francis, 11. West also has a daughter named Martha from a previous relationship.

In photos obtained by the Daily Mail, the 50-year-old and his The Pursuit of Love co-star, 31, appeared to kiss while out together in Rome. They reportedly stayed at Hotel de la Ville for two nights.

The duo were also seen touring around the city on an electric scooter and stopping to take photographs of the famous sights.

In the images, the actor was seen without his wedding ring, which he is usually spotted wearing.

However, West did not have his wedding ring on again this morning as he made the appearance with his wife, while FitzGerald kept her left hand in her pocket the whole time.

West and James are about to appear together on-screen in the BBC series The Pursuit of Love but also starred together previously in Othello on stage, in 2011.

James has been romantically linked to Captain America star Chris Evans recently but it's understood she had rekindled her romance with her ex-boyfriend, The Crown actor Matt Smith.

The couple, however, are believed to have last week called time on their on/off five-year relationship, after reuniting during lockdown.