Lily Allen was left in tears after a verbal bust-up with Amy Winehouse after the BRITs, according to tabloid reports.

The Mirror reports that the pair, who were both nominated for the Best Female gong at the ceremony " which was scooped by Winehouse, are reported to have clashed backstage.

A source told the paper that Allen said: "I had a real slanging match with Amy Winehouse. We had a really bad row. It was terrible."

Shortly after the BRITs, Allen " who told MTV News yesterday that she reckons the BRITs are fixed to favour one particular record label, after leaving this years ceremony empty-handed - was spotted in tears, by beady-eyed onlookers, as she boarded a plane to the US.

So was it really Amy and her, ahem, big mouth? No, no no, say Amys people. "Lily was crying because she was tired and emotional after her big night, said a spokesperson for Winehouse. They didn't have an argument - they're friends."

Let's hope so.

'DL'