Girls Aloud singer carries skull

Nicola Roberts is carrying a skull around to ward off men.

The Girls Aloud singer says the creepy head on a stick – which has a tuft of red hair to match hers – helps frighten off potentially troublesome boyfriends.

Nicola - who was given the bizarre gift by a fan at last weekend's Virgin Mobile V Festival - said: "This ought to ward off any bad men.

Although I hope it doesn't scare me too much as well. "It was meant to be. It even has my hair colour."

The 22-year-old star revealed she is not looking for another lover after splitting from long-term partner Carl Davies in May. She added to Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper: "I'm banning men. No more boyfriends for me. I want to be on my own. I'm tired of all the bulls**t that comes with having a boyfriend.

"I don't want to deal with anymore c**p. I've learned the hard way and from other people's mistakes. "I've been in a relationship since I was 16 and just want to be myself and hang out with my girls."

Nicola and her Girls Aloud bandmates - Cheryl Cole, Sarah Harding, Nadine Coyle and Kimberley Walsh - performed at the UK music festival over the weekend.