Cheryl Cole's 26th birthday bash

Cheryl Cole celebrated her 26th birthday in style, with a celebrity-studded surprise bash at London's Vanilla nightclub.

The Girls Aloud singer and X Factor judge was supposedly expecting a quiet night out with husband Ashley Cole and band mate Kimberley Walsh - but on arrival at the nightspot she discovered fellow band mate Nicola Roberts, and her TV colleagues Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Dannii Minogue.

Ashley then presented Cheryl, who was dressed for the occasion in a £4000 Alexander McQueen mini dress, with a pink star-shaped cake which was iced with the message 'To my lovely little star'.

The couple seemed closer than ever, and were pictured cuddling up to each other and holding hands - although Cheryl did not appear to be wearing her wedding ring.