ALLEN IN MUSIC PIRACY U-TURN

The Smile hitmaker recently urged the government to crack down on illicit file-sharing, insisting illegal downloads will destroy the music industry.

Several high-profile stars, including Sir Elton John and Muse frontman Matt Bellamy, backed Allen's stance.

But now the singer has shocked other campaigners by claiming she doesn't mind people copying her songs on to blank discs and handing them out, as long as they take some sort of payment for it.

She tells radio station Key 103, "If someone comes up with a burnt copy of my CD and offers it to you for £4 I haven't a problem with that as long as the person buying it places some kind of value on my music."