A mariachi band singer went to serenade a man's lover - only to discover that the woman he was singing to was his own wife.

The traditional Mexican music group of Spanish guitars, trumpets and violins had been hired by a man in Coyacan, Mexico City, who said he wanted to surprise his girlfriend.

The band arrived at the address and started to play a famous song entitled 'If they let us', which the man had requested, underneath the house's balcony.

A mariachi band (pictured) went to serenade a man's lover - only for the lead singer to discover that the woman he was singing to was his own wife

But when the woman they were serenading finally appeared, the band's main singer recognised her as his own wife.

According to Mexico's Los40 website, the music came to an abrupt end as the singer traded blows and insults with the woman's lover.

The other band members reportedly had to intervene to stop the fight and tried to calm him down.

A photo shared on Facebook claims to show the moment the singer recognised the woman he was serenading as his wife.

The singer said he and his wife lived together in a house the Miguel Hidalgo borough in western Mexico City.

He claimed he and had no idea she was cheating on him with another man, or that she had another house in the southern Coyacan district.

The woman's lover also claimed he didn't know she was already married and said he had planned to ask her to marry him following the serenade, according to reports.

Mariachi bands with distinctive traditional clothing, instruments and songs date back to the 18th century and are popular throughout Mexico and are often hired for parties to to serenade loved ones.

They can consist of up to 20 performers with at least two violins, two trumpets and various traditional guitars.