Valance told to pay ex-manager

Holly Valance first found fame in Neighbours

Singer Holly Valance has lost a court battle with the manager she sacked when her career began to take off.

An Australian court found the star had unfairly terminated the contract of Scott Michaelson in January 2002.

Lawyers for Valance claimed Michaelson - like Valance, a former Neighbours actor - had been ill-equipped to manage the star's burgeoning music career.

Michaelson is seeking £160,000 in lost income, a 20% cut of sales of Valance's second album and exemplary damages.

The case began last month with judge Clifford Einstein asking to see the video of Valance's debut hit Kiss Kiss, in which the singer is seen semi-naked.

Valance, whose real name is Holly Rachel Vukadinovic, will have to wait another week for the judge's decision on the cost of the damages.

Valance first found fame as Flick in Neighbours. She released her first album, Footprints, in October last year.