GEORGE CLOONEY - CLOONEY'S KRISTA COVER-UP

GEORGE CLOONEY complained this week (ends05SEP03) that his new home in Italy has prevented him from finding a girlfriend - but he forgot to mention his old flame stayed with him all summer.

The suave star claimed his new Summer retreat on the banks Lake Como has ruptured his private life, as the intense interest shown in him by Europe's paparazzi photographers made it impossible to romance any potential girlfriends.

However, his former lover KRISTA ALLEN - who dated Clooney for several months after appearing in his directorial debut CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND last year (02) - has revealed she has spent the Summer with the OCEAN'S ELEVEN actor.

She says, "George directed me, and we've become really great friends."