SUGABABES star KEISHA BUCHANAN has hit back at reports she forced bandmate AMELLE BERRABAH into hiding after a vicious bust-up - insisting she's "crushed" by claims she is a bully.

The trio's future was in doubt after Amelle disappeared earlier this week - missing a string of gigs and band appearances.

British tabloid The Sun claimed the star had fled the band after constant fights with Keisha - alleging she was bullied to the point of wanting to quit the band.

But Keisha has ht back on her Twitter page, saying: "I feel like no one EVER bothers to look deep into the Sugababes story. They see me as the longest standing member and assume that I'm the b**ch who causes people to walk, and it's totally untrue and unfair... I can honestly say that we all get along! I'm sure we bug each other at times but I love them girls. And there has NEVER been bullying in Sugababes EVER!"

But insiders claim Keisha - the only remaining original member of the group founded in 2001 - was jealous of newcomer Berrabah's solo success with UK rapper Tinchy Stryder.

But she has lashed out at the reports - insisting she's sick of critics painting her as the band's "b**ch".

She says: "Why have I just woken up in LA to 25 phone calls of people telling me that I'm in the paper today for a completely made up story about me bullying Amelle, not being supportive, blah blah blah.

"I've let the papers tell lies about me when it comes to stories like that in the past... But not anymore. I may come across as a hard nut sometimes, but I'm actually really sensitive and it destroys me to think that people today are going to read that and believe it."

Tellingly Amelle has remained tight-lipped over the whole thing...