WESTLIFE - WESTLIFE BLAST BRIT AWARDS

Boyband WESTLIFE are refusing to attend tonight's (17FEB04) BRIT AWARDS because they "can't believe" they haven't received a single nomination.

The MANDY group have slammed the London bash as irrelevant to their career, because they continue to top the charts and sell-out arenas despite repeated critical snubs.

Singer NICKY BYRNE says, "We've not been nominated that I'm aware of, but it doesn't bother us. That's the industry.

"A year or two ago, I desperately wanted to be nominated for a Brit Award and thought we needed that to continue to be successful. But we still sell albums and sell out tours.

"Now we couldn't give a s***. I don't care if we are not nominated for a Brit Award. We've won two previous Brits. This is the second or third year we haven't been nominated and we are learning to get on with it.

"The five of us can't believe we haven't even been nominated, though we probably don't deserve to win it because the likes of BUSTED have had a great year.

"F*** them. Who cares. We've no interest in going to the awards. I'm sure it will be fun for everyone there, but if we're nominated and we think we should be, as far as I'm concerned I won't bother going to the Brits."

Fellow singer BRYAN McFADDEN more realistically adds, "Let's face it, we're never going to get Best Single. There are a lot of bands who are more credible than Westlife and they don't want the Brits turned into a pop show."