Madonna has arrived back in Britain without the child she travelled to Malawi to collect. The singer is said to be 'in pieces' after her application to adopt four-year-old Mercy was rejected by the African nation's courts.

As her private jet touched down at Luton airport she was met by ex-husband Guy Ritchie, who following the ruling published a statement describing Madonna as an 'excellent mother'. MailOnline.com has photos of a smiling Guy approached the plane his four-year-old son David leapt into his arms for a kiss.