Kimberley Walsh is "proud" of Sarah Harding for going to rehab.

The Girls Aloud singer thinks her bandmate - who recently checked out of a facility in Utah, where she had been receiving treatment for "depression and alcohol addiction" - is "brave" to admit she had a problem and needed help.

She said: "You can't blame Sarah for knocking it on the head. It is brave as some people can't face up to thins, and she obviously knew she had a problem and could help herself, and I'm proud of her for doing that."

Kimberley recently threw a lavish party to celebrate turning 30 and was sad that Sarah couldn't celebrate with her as they have their birthdays within three days of one another but she is looking forward to helping her friend mark reaching the milestone age in the coming weeks.

She added in an interview with Britain's OK! Magazine: "In the past, we've had joint parties and we were both 30 this year, so it was sad not having her at my milestone birthday.

"We just want her back home now, safe, sound and back to normal.

"Sarah is back soon and we haven't celebrated her 30th yet, so it's just an excuse to have a night out. We'll definitely go out for dinner with Cheryl [Cole] there too."