Cheryl Cole is preparing for a showdown with footballer husband Ashley when she returns to Britain on Monday, following claims that he chatted up a blonde in a club.

Worried: Cheryl on charity climb

The couple almost split last year over allegations that he cheated with a hairdresser, so Cheryl, 25, put the Chelsea star on a strict "no clubbing" promise while she is away climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief.

But today new details emerged about how the defender snapped in the early hours yesterday after being photographed at Collection nightspot in South Kensington with a female clubber.

Held: moment of Cole's arrest in today's Sun newspaper

X Factor judge Cheryl, six days into her African climb with eight other stars, burst into tears when she heard the news by phone. An expedition member said: "She was very worried - really low."

Cole was reportedly in a cordoned-off area of the club with team-mates John Terry and Michael Mancienne as they sat with a group of girls. onlookers claimed that despite his wedding ring being on full show, he was mesmerised by a blonde in a blue minidress. one told The Sun: "They broke off from the main group. She placed her hands on his lap as she leaned in to speak into his right ear."

Just after midnight the mood soured when the pair were pictured together and minders seized the camera. Cole became abusive again when he was snapped leaving the club. Police fined him £80 for being drunk and disorderly and he spent the night at Chelsea police station. He is said to have been fined around £160,000, two weeks' wages, by Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink, and is thought to have been dropped from the squad for tomorrow's FA Cup tie at Coventry. Last night, Cole stated: "I would like to apologise to the police officer on duty for my language. I felt I was being harassed by paparazzi."