KATONA SUING FRIEND OVER DRUG ACCUSATIONS

LATEST: Former ATOMIC KITTEN KERRY KATONA is suing her former friend for telling the press her cocaine addiction was killing her.

The mother-of-two has struggled with depression since her traumatic split from former WESTLIFE singer BRIAN McFADDEN last year (04), and her best friend JOANNE GOODIER claims she's turned to drugs to alleviate her suffering.

But Katona is furious about the allegations, and is prepared to argue her case in court to prove Goodier's claims are "a pack of lies".

Katona's PR guru MAX CLIFFORD says, "She categorically denies the allegations. She does not take drugs and never has.

"It's totally untrue, total lies. And because of the seriousness of the allegations, she's going to sue.

"That's not something she's happy about - she's just very sad now. I have people saying they were at a party with Kerry and she was on drugs, yet on occasions she was not even at those parties.

"Yes, she lets her hair down and is emotional, but she is not on cocaine."

Katona adds, "Money is the root of all evil."