Singer Holly Valance has denied she was cheating on her long-term boyfriend with a hunky North-East student.

The former Neighbours star is rumoured to have dumped Aussie heart-throb Pete Veveris for Steve Aspinall, 23.

Steve, an economics student at Newcastle University, is reported to have spent the night at Holly's London apartment.

But the Australian beauty insisted yesterday: "We're just good friends."

In an interview with Metro Radio on Tyneside she said: "Steve is a friend of mine and a lovely guy and I don't have a bad word to say about him.

"But what has been suggested about us is an utter load of crap.

"It is horrible. Pete is at home wondering what is going on but we're still together and we're fine."

The 19-year-old is currently spending much of her time in Britain promoting her new single Down Boy, the follow-up to number one hit Kiss Kiss.

Meanwhile Steve Aspinall's pals at Newcastle University have been surprised by the story.

One said: "If he is seeing Holly Valance he's a lucky bloke, but I haven't noticed her with him at the union bar.

"He's a good-looking bloke and he never has trouble pulling girls, but she is something else."