Cheryl Cole to seek a divorce, says friends

Friends of singer Cheryl Cole say she plans to seek a divorce from her husband Ashley Cole following media allegations that he cheated on her with an unidentified secretary while she was filming The X Factor, the TV talent show on which she appears as a judge.

The accusation of an affair followed claims from two women, one of them a topless model, that they had received saucy text messages, including nearly-nude photos, from the Chelsea and England footballer.

Hiding behind a vast pair of sunglasses, and sporting a T-shirt that appeared to depict a woman crying, Cheryl flew out of London yesterday to keep a recording date in Los Angeles. As she had on Tuesday night at the Brit Awards, she appeared without her wedding ring.

Friends interviewed by the media believe she will start divorce proceedings on her return from LA next week. "She is extremely tough - don't forget she comes from a council estate in Newcastle and is a fighter," said one friend. "But there is only so much she will take."

The Daily Mail reports that the Coles did not sign a pre-nuptual agreement when they married in July 2006 - "We're getting married because we're committing ourselves to spend our lives together," she said at the time -  which means an expensive divorce is on the cards.

Both are millionaires in their own right, but Ashley is the bigger earner. Cheryl's contract with The X Factor, her advertising deal with L'Oreal and her earnings as a singer are estimated to bring in an annual £2.5m or thereabouts. Her husband's Chelsea contract and sponsorship deals earn him closer to £6m a year.

A lawyer told the Mail: "This is an unusual situation for a footballer as very few have wives with their own earnings. However the discrepancy between their net worths means that Mrs Cole would have a very strong case for a significant claim over a large portion of his wealth, now and in the future." ·