Lily Allen has hit back at claims she condoned the use of illegal drugs.

The 23-year-old singer hit the headlines after reportedly telling The Word magazine that she knew people who managed to take recreational drugs and carry on with their lives.

A song entitled Everyone's At It on her forthcoming album is about drug use, and so the singer was asked for her opinion on the matter.

Lily apparently replied: "The only story is drugs are bad and will kill you - you will become a prostitute, a rapist or a dealer. But it's not true.

"I know lots of people that take cocaine three nights a week and get up and go to work everyday, no problem at all," she reportedly said.

But Allen has since said she did not intend her comments to imply that she condoned drug use.

The singer's publicist said: "At no point does she say drugs are a good thing or she condones drug use; in fact, she says: 'I can spot the signs and it terrifies me'.

"Lily Allen would like to state unequivocally that she does not condone illegal drug use.

"And she has every sympathy with individuals and families whose lives have been blighted by drugs."