By JOEL SAWYER

POP fans in Warrington have been left licking their wounds at news that Atomic Kitten Kerry Katona is leaving the super group.

Warrington's premier pop princess from Padgate has decided to call it a day on her pop chart career to concentrate on being a celebrity mum.

The revelation follows news that she is having a child with long-time lover, fiancee and Westlifer Bryan McFadden.

And once promotion of the Kitten's new single, Whole Again, is complete, Kerry is off.

But the band have not taken long to make themselves 'whole again', having already recruited a replacement for the Padgate popster.

Close pal Jenny Frost will fill her megastar boots. She is formerly of Precious the girl group whose single Say It Again was England's entry for the last Eurovision Song Contest.

Jenny has already been working with the girls on the next single which will be available in March.

Stuart Bell, the Kitten's manager, said: "We can confirm that Kerry Katona is leaving Atomic Kitten after she completes promotion for the band's current single, Whole Again, in early February. Since she decided to leave the band Kerry has worked closely with myself, Liz and Natasha to find the right person to replace her a tall order we know but we do feel we have found a true star in Jenny. The Kitten's team is a very close knit family and we were all thrilled with the news of Kerry's pregnancy and completely understand her decision to put the well-being of her unborn child first.

"Being in Atomic Kitten is a 24-hour a day hectic way of life which really wouldn't make for a stress-free, relaxed pregnancy.

"All of us at Integral, Engine and Innocent Records want to take this opportunity to wish Kerry and Bryan the best for their baby and their forthcoming marriage."

Kerry has said she hopes to make her future career in television presenting and is currently considering various offers from a number of producers.