Girls Aloud slam songwriter Betty Boo

Girls Aloud have slammed 80s pop star and songwriter Alison 'Betty Boo' Clarkson for fuelling rumours the band was to split.

Singer Cheryl Cole insists Clarkson - who penned tracks for the British girl group's first album 'Sound Of The Underground' in 2003 - was lying when she recently claimed she had been approached to write solo material for the 24-year-old star.

Cole has accused Clarkson of using the Girls Aloud name to generate publicity for herself.

"We're still finishing the new album, which I have to say is our best yet," she said.

"I'm not sure why anyone would think I would want to work on a solo album now. It's sad that people have to say these things to get a little bit of publicity off the back of us."