Bradford pop queen Kimberley Walsh may be top of the pop world again, after seeing off the challenge from boy band One True Voice, but today she was struggling with flu symptoms.

Kimberley couldn't even sing for joy yesterday as her band's single was again top of the charts - because she's almost lost her voice with the illness.

The Allerton singer now faces a New Year in bed with tissues and medicine, instead of popping the champagne corks for Girls Aloud's continuing success.

As last night's chart positions were announced, the five-piece held on to the top spot and fellow Pop Star: The Rivals contestants The Cheeky Girls moved up to number two. The girls' rival band, all-male One True Voice, slipped a place to three.

Twenty one-year-old Kimberley fell ill on Boxing Day and has been in bed since with a cold and bad chest.

"She doesn't feel brilliant but is ecstatic still to be at number one," said mum Diane, pictured. "It seems she's got a bad cold or flu because she is blocked up and achey. We might take her to the doctors if she gets no better."

Kimberley has also been unable to sing because of her cold.

"She's very croaky and almost lost her voice today," said Diane, a teacher at Lidget Green Primary School. "She has managed to keep going, but has rested a lot while she has been home for Christmas."

When Girls Aloud reached the Christmas top spot on Sunday, December 22 they had sold 215,000 copies in their first week and had broken three records. They became the first band to secure a Christmas number one with their debut hit. They were also the first all-girl outfit to go straight to the top of the charts. It was also the shortest time on record that a band had secured a number one after being formed.

"If she is well enough, she is hoping to celebrate the New Year with her friends," said Diane. "Now Girls Aloud are number one again this week, she has double reason to celebrate.

"We hadn't really heard much about their chances of staying at number one, but I know they have sold a lot more copies this week. We are all delighted for them."

Diane said her daughter would be spending January in the studio recording new tracks before rehearsing for an upcoming joint tour with One True Voice in February and March.

"Despite what the tabloids have said, the two groups get on really well and were all dancing together at a recent party," said Diane. She said the family had spent a normal Christmas together, despite Kimberley's rise to pop stardom.

"It's been normal but also quite weird to switch on the TV and see Kimberley on Top of the Pops on Christmas Day.

"She was quite critical of herself. When we were all saying 'Aren't they wonderful!' she was saying 'I didn't look very good in that bit!' They haven't been able to see that much of themselves on the TV because they are usually working."

Diane said her daughter did not have any New Year resolutions, but hoped that despite moving to a new London home, she would be able to return to Bradford as often as possible.