David Boreanaz stars as the vampire Angel

The show, which stars David Boreanaz as a vampire out to rid the world of evil, will end after its fifth series.

The show was a spin-off from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which also recently ended after its star Sarah Michelle Gellar opted to quit.

Angel and Buffy creator Joss Whedon said he was "heartbroken" at the decision to end Angel, saying it had come as "a big shock.

The series had recently been overhauled with new cast members brought in after it was close to being cancelled last season.

"It seemed like we hit our stride, so this is a big shock," Whedon said.

But the series proved too costly for The WB network in relation to its small but loyal fan base.

WB executives have suggested a few Angel TV movies could be produced.

Steady jobs

However Whedon said: "It's my fervent hope that all my cast and my writers will be much too busy.

"It's not that I'm not interested in the idea, I just want steady jobs for my people. But I definitely think there are more stories to tell."

Whedon also said he planned to invite Sarah Michelle Gellar to guest star in one of the final Angel episodes.

"I'm sort of assuming she wouldn't want to," he added. "But I intend to find out."

The series is shown on Sky One and channel Five in the UK.