Shock at Natasha's comments

Surrounded by scores of fans clinging to her every word, Atomic Kitten star Natasha Hamilton was asked how she keeps her size eight figure.

The singer, who 24 hours earlier had won the Rear of the Year award, outraged parents with her answer.

She told her young audience at a theme park that she keeps in perfect shape by skipping meals.

Miss Hamilton, 20, was opening a ride at Drayton Manor theme park in Staffordshire along with her fellow Kittens Jenny Frost and Liz McClarnon.

She was asked how she had got her figure back so quickly after having her baby Joshua in August 2002.

"That's easy," she said. "I just don't eat." Turning to photographers she smiled and said: "That's how I've done it - the way to a nice backside is not to eat."

Her band-mates Jenny Frost and Liz McClarnon gasped at her comments made in front of hundreds of young fans.

Miss Frost said: "You can't say that!" and then came to her defence.

But mothers waiting with their children to see the trio were infuriated.

"I think its outrageous she said that," said physiotherapist Jo Dove-Dixon, 41, who had accompanied her seven-year-old daughter Tilly to see the Kittens.

"She is idolised by millions of weight-conscious girls who are bound to take this seriously - she's been very stupid."

Another mother Joan Harrington, said her daughters Billie, eight, and Rachel, 12 idolised the band.

"Nat is being highly irresponsible," she added.

"My daughters worship those girls. I'll have to sit down and tell them how important eating properly really is."

A spokesman for the band said the comment had been a joke and Miss Hamilton had corrected herself by saying her figure was down to a fast metabolism.

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