DENISE Van Outen has criticised Swindon star Billie Piper.

In Billie's frank autobiography, she blamed the prestigious Sylvia Young stage school for her bulimia.

Billie said the school put pressure on her to be "smaller, lighter and thinner," and several pupils suffered eating disorders, which were ignored by staff.

Van Outen, pictured, who is also a former pupil of the Fame-style college, said: "I was a big Billie Piper fan, but in her book she was very negative about Sylvia and the school and I think that is wrong and unfair.

"If it was not for Sylvia, she would not be where she is.

Earlier this year, Sylvia Young spoke out about Billie's comments in her book Growing Pains and claimed she was "very offended" by the "poisonous" words.