THE mother of a 16 year old schoolgirl linked with pop star Gareth Gates has insisted the pair are "just very good friends".

Gareth, 18, was said to be smitten by Menston teenager Sophie Wellings, according to a national newspaper report.

But this week her mother Linda 46, insisted there was "absolutely no romance" between the pair.

And she said the family feared that national tabloid press intrusion into their lives could ruin Gareth and Sophie's long standing friendship.

Bradford Grammar School pupil Sophie met Gareth eight years ago when the pair sang alongside each other in the choir at Bradford Cathedral.

The star has remained in touch with talented musician Sophie since and they occasionally meet up when he is in the area. But Mrs Wellings said suggestions their relationship was anything more than friendship were "simply not true". "Sophie is one of Gareth's many friends in this area, but they are not particularly close", said Mrs Wellings, who also rubbished reports the pair had been spotted in London together.

"They have kept in touch with each other over the years, but that is all. They have got things in common, but some of what has been reported is ridiculous.

"She is just a normal schoolgirl and what has happened these past few days is as much of a surprise to her as everyone else". Mrs Wellings said she knew the Gates family well and was very proud of what Gareth had achieved.

Sophie and her brother Daniel are also being tipped for a bright future after winning a host of prestigious music competitions. But Mrs Wellings stressed: "There is absolutely no romance between Gareth and Sophie. She just wants to get on with her studies at the moment and remain friends with Gareth. We are concerned this press coverage is going to make things very difficult. We have never really had any contact with the press before, and this sort of reporting is not really very conducive to them having a normal friendship.

Gareth's father Paul Gates said Sophie was a "very nice girl and talented musician" and confirmed the two families had been good friends for a number of years. "Gareth is still good friends with Sophie but obviously some of the papers want to make more of it", he said. "They always want to link Gareth with various girls."

"We have spoken to Sophie a number of times over the past week or so and now she has experienced the tabloid press for what they are. Gareth has lots of female friends and he still tries to make time to see them whenever he can".