Ferne keeping her head down

Pals tell new they are worried about the TOWIE star, who is only speaking to a select circle after her row with Sam Faiers over leaked voicenotes

- Kirsty Hatcher and Ellie Kirwin-Jones

Devastated Ferne McCann has cut herself off from her friends as she tries to cope with the fallout of the infamous leaked voice notes, sources claim.

Worried pals have told new that the former TOWIE star, 32, is taking time for herself and is only speaking to a small inner circle including her mum Gill and fiancé Lorri Haines-after she was accused of fat-shaming longtime friend Sam Faiers, 31.

"Ferne is still devastated by the whole thing," they told us.

"It's awful. Friends are worried about her and haven't heard from her. She's keeping her head down and those close to her are rallying around her and supporting her." Last week, Essex Police confirmed that they had launched an investigation into the mystery poster, saying, "We are investigating a report of malicious communication which was made to us in Brentwood on Thursday, 29 September.

"We have spoken to the victim, a woman aged in her 30s, and our enquiries are ongoing." The account leaking the notes, LucyMay195, then disappeared, only to resurface under a new name, lady whistle down 195 - a nod to the fictional whistleblower in the hit Netflix series Bridgerton.