'Depressed' Allen misses awards meeting

Lily Allen was too depressed to show up to a meeting of a book judging panel of which she is a member.

The singer is a judge for the prestigious Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction, which recognises the work of female authors.

However, she sent mum Alison Owen to an important meeting earlier this month after deciding that she was not in a fit state to attend.

A spokesman for the £30,000 prize said: "Actually she was feeling depressed, but she did call us by phone."

Allen reportedly approached the panel last December to become a judge for the awards, which will be handed out in June.

She was recently reported to be receiving treatment for depression at a top London clinic after suffering a miscarriage and splitting with boyfriend Ed Simons.

> Allen making 'Barbarella' party pad?