THE career of the North-East's newest pop star was thrown into turmoil yesterday when poor ticket sales forced the cancellation of a joint tour by Girls Aloud and One True Voice.

The bands, formed in the ITV1 show Popstars: The Rivals, were meant to perform 12 concert dates together next month, including a show in Newcastle on March 14.

But Louis Walsh, manager of the Girls Aloud band featuring former cocktail waitress Cheryl Tweedy from Tyneside, said yesterday that nobody was buying the tickets.

He said Girls Aloud would tour on their own later this year. Mr Walsh said: "Being associated with One True Voice was not doing them any favours.

"They were meant to be touring with One True Voice and the others from the programme, but it wasn't selling."

There was confusion for fans of both groups yesterday as tickets for the tour continued to be sold. Ticketmaster said it would stop selling them when it received official confirmation of the cancellation.

Granada, the makers of Popstars: The Rivals, said it was considering legal action against the tour promoters for reneging on the agreement to stage the shows.

The blow comes as the latest incident in two turbulent months for 19-year-old Cheryl, who feared being thrown out of the band last month after she was arrested for punching a nightclub attendant.

Her brother, Andrew, 22, who has a history of solvent abuse, pleaded guilty at Newcastle Magistrates' Court on Saturday to breaking into a car. He will be sentenced on March 7.

Last month, Andrew and another sister, Gillian, 23, appeared at the same court after brawling together in the street. They pleaded guilty to affray and were bound over to keep the peace for 12 months.