Cheryl Cole now sure that dumping Ashley was 'the right thing to do'

The 'Fight for This Love' singer found it tough following her split from cheating husband Ashley Cole earlier this year, but always knew dumping him was "the right thing to do".

The Girls Aloud beauty said: "It's a very different feeling being out there on your own. Slowly but surely I'm finding my feet.

"It was scary and exciting at the same time, but definitely the right thing to do."

Since the separation, Cheryl, 27, has been romantically linked to professional dancer Derek Hough, and she admits the handsome star has been the perfect person to help her get through life without England soccer player Ashley.

Derek, 25, helped her recover from deadly tropical disease Malaria during the summer and temporarily moved into her home to help care for her.

She said: "Derek is a sweetheart, the kind of person that makes the day more enjoyable. And that's really important when you're on set doing a video for 18, 19 hours – maybe longer."

The singer – whose second solo album 'Messy Little Raindrops' is released next month – also revealed she felt completely betrayed by Ashley, 29, after learning of his infidelities but she has now moved on.

She added in her new book 'Through My Eyes': "Yes definitely I do [feel betrayed]. But I've got to take everything that's happened and learn from it. I accept that's a chapter of my life that's finished."