Katona branded bad role model by ex-bandmate

Kerry Katona has been branded a bad role model by her former Atomic Kitten bandmate Liz McClarnon.

Liz was being interviewed by a group of Liverpool schoolchildren about the effects of smoking when she was asked to comment on Katona, who has been criticised for failing to give up cigarettes during her current pregnancy.

According to the Liverpool Daily Post, Liz replied: "Kerry's not a good role model, but she wouldn't put herself as one and she has things going on in her life that you wouldn't want going on in your life. She's going through a lot."

Ex-smoker McClarnon was a guest at the International Smokefree Movies Conference at Liverpool's St George's Hall earlier this week.

In November, the British Heart Foundation warned that Katona is putting her unborn child at risk by continuing to smoke, explaining: "The amount you smoke is irrelevant." However, Kerry later insisted: "I have one fag a day and I don't think you can say that's doing the baby any harm."