Musician Gary Barlow and his wife Dawn say their daughter was stillborn, and are asking for privacy.

In a statement released Monday, the couple said they were devastated by the loss of Poppy Barlow, who was delivered stillborn on Saturday.

They said their focus is "on giving her a beautiful funeral and loving our three children with all our hearts".

They also said, "We'd ask at this painful time that our privacy be respected."

The couple have a son and two daughters; Daniel, 11, nine-year-old Emily and three-year-old Daisy.

Barlow – who married Dawn in 2000, five years after they met when she was a dancer for Take That – announced on Twitter he was to be a father again in February and revealed weeks later that Dawn was carrying a girl.

He recently spoke of how important being a parent is after he was crowned Celebrity Dad of the Year.

He said: "I've been waiting for it for a long time. My kids are really excited and I don't think they can quite believe it.

"Being a dad is a really important part of my life and it means a lot to have won this award."

Barlow, a member of Take That and judge of TV talent show The X Factor, was organiser of June's huge Buckingham Palace concert celebrating Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, and received an Order of the British Empire award.

Take That had been rumoured to be among the acts performing at the closing ceremony of the London Olympics on Sunday.