Pain and bitterness for Steps fans

Steps fans shared their grief as they told of the tears they had shed over the band's split.

Hundreds of youngsters posted messages on the band's website after hearing the quintet were calling it a day after five years.

But a number have also accused the band of a cynical ploy by waiting until people have stocked up on Steps albums and videos as presents before announcing the news.

One message says: "If they split up a few weeks ago they wouldn't have sold as many CDs and merchandise over the Christmas period. By splitting up the day after Christmas they have made sure they have sold enough to make sure they never have to work in Tescos."

And the writer tells fans: "Steps are evil for what they have done to you, get revenge and take all your Steps things back to the shops for a refund, and then you can laugh at them for selling you a lie as they work in Tescos."

Some fans were upset that the band had consistently denied they would split but had secretly been planning to call it a day.

The band announced it was the end as they decided to pursue their own solo projects after selling more than 12 million records.

Many fans told how upset they were by the split.

One left a message on the site which said: "I started crying my eyes out, I got into a right mess because I was a massive fan .... I then got a shooting pain in my side, then a load of chest pains and also a really bad headache."

Another said: "My mum keeps telling me to stop being so stupid because they're just a band, but to me, they weren't JUST a band, they were an influence on my life and I loved 'em."