Amy Winehouse apparently upset children when she refused to perform and had a tantrum during a visit to a stage school.

The jazz performer had been due to sing and meet youngsters at the Performing Arts and Technology in Croydon - one of the country's top drama schools.

The appearance was also due to be filmed for an ITV1 show, The Brits Are Coming, scheduled for the run-up to next year's Brit Awards.

According to the Daily Mirror, the famously rowdy star was angry after an argument with her boyfriend. "It was chaos," said a source, adding that some children even ended up crying.

"The production staff just looked at each in disbelief, not knowing what too say. We tried to get her to change her mind, but she was having none of it and kept shouting 'no'."

A pupil who witnessed the scene told the paper: "Amy was in such a state and just crying. She is an idol to many of us here because of what she's achieved so soon after leaving and we couldn't believe how she behaved."