Cheryl Cole has appeared to have hit back at comments made by her X Factor protégé Cher Lloyd, after the Swagger Jagger star apparently criticised Chezza's singing abilities during a radio interview.

Earlier this week, Lloyd seemed to make a dig at the Girls Aloud babe, suggesting that Cheryl can't sing live, telling Real Radio North West that without the use of Auto-Tune it would be a "challenge" for the 28-year old to perform without it.

When asked if she would ever want to duet with Cole, the 18-year old stated: "Maybe, if she sings live with me... [it's] always [a challenge] nowadays when you haven't got that nifty little button to press."

The Want U Back singer was then probed over whether she was accusing Cheryl of using Auto-Tune, to which she sarcastically replied: "What, oh no? Never, never ever."

It seems Cheryl was less than impressed with Lloyd's catty comments, taking to Twitter to write: "Be Careful who you kick on your way up .. They kick you twice as hard on your way back down.. #unappreciationisugly."

Cher's acid tongue may have also landed her in trouble with The X Factor judge Louis Walsh, as she criticised him the same interview, suggesting that he should give up his seat on the panel.

Speaking of the Irish music mogul's reign on the talent show, Lloyd quipped: "Have a holiday for a few years! Have a break Louis, you work too hard. He's the only one that's stayed; he might as well go as well and bring someone else in."

Talking about their differences, she added: "I don't think he likes me very much, he said that I'm a monster."