Charlotte Church loves smoker's voice

Charlotte Church loves the tone that smoking gives her voice.

The 'Back To Scratch' singer - who has children Ruby, three, and 21-month-old Dexter with former fiance Gavin Henson - has given up drinking alcohol but has no plans to quit her other vice, which she insists has not damaged her vocal range.

She said: "I'm not drinking these days, so you've got to have one vice. I'll stop before my kids notice. But I quite like the tone it's giving my voice, lots of lovely depth, and I haven't lost the top end at all. That's my excuse."

Although Charlotte - who shot to fame as an opera singer aged just nine - plans to quit for the sake of her children, she also said it will help her voice recover so she can go back to her classical roots.

Charlotte, 24, added: "I'd love to do an opera some time. I still sing in that classical voice, at home on my own, in the dark! I'll never lose that; it's as tough as old boots.

"But it would mean I'd have to stop smoking and go back to training for a year or two. And I will. I know it seems I've been around forever, but there's so much I want to do, and I've got youth on my side."