Kerry Katona has checked into The Priory clinic because of the stress of being burgled at knifepoint.

The ex-Atomic Kitten singer is said to be suffering from severe depression and has apparently checked in for a fortnight.

A source told The Sun Katona was upset by the raid on Sunday in which she, husband Mark Croft and five-month-old daughter Heidi were threatened.

“It has nothing to do with drugs or drinking," explained the friend. "It is all to do with depression. And it has obviously been triggered by what happened at her home the other night.”

The ordeal follows rumours Croft used to be a drug dealer and that people wanted to attack him. Max Clifford, Katona's publicist, insisted there was no link.

He said he told Croft: "Mark, you realise everyone is going to say this was an inside job and it’s down to you?" But he replied: "I realise that, but it’s totally untrue."