POP'S worst kept secret was revealed yesterday as Spice Girl Geri Halliwell quit the all-girl band.

It is now a case of 'Five Become Four' for the band who shot to the top of the charts with the hit song Two Become One.

But the group's fans in East Lancashire say the departure of Ginger Spice Geri won't stop 'girl power' from keeping the superstar band going.

A statement released through Geri's lawyer said the 25-year-old had left the group because of "differences" with other band members.

Remaining members Scary Spice, Baby Spice, Posh Spice and Sporty Spice are set to complete the band's tour of the United States.

Fans Kay Gibson and Lisa Venables, both from Blackburn, said: "It has come as a bit of a surprise. We didn't think it would come to this. The band are all friends so they usually all join together. Take That never recovered when Robbie Williams left, but the Spice Girls are big enough to carry on."

Kay, 13, a pupil at Westholme School, said: "I don't think Geri will have much of a career on her own.

"I think her leaving has something to do with her meeting with Chris Evans, but I don't know exactly what." Lisa, 12, who goes to Ribblesdale High School, said: "She was one of the group and we will miss her but things will carry on without her."

But other teenagers were not so concerned. Sarah Harrison, 15, from Blackburn, said: "I'm not a big fan, but I think Geri should stay because the band look good together."

But her pal Lyndsey Richardson, also 15, said: "I don't like the Spice Girls anyway, so I don't really care."

And friend Claire Gregson, 15, added: "I think they are a bit too tarty."

Our Price worker Laura Keegan, 17, said: "I am devastated. I have three sisters, two aged five and one aged eight, and they are really upset.

Laura, from Wilpshire, added: "I expect the band will carry on and do a few more songs, then probably split and follow solo careers.

"But the Spice Girls have been so successful that they haven't got anything left to do. They couldn't have gone on for much longer anyway."

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