CHERYL Cole's security team were on high alerts yesterday after a fan lunged at the X Factor judge.
The 25-year-old Girls Aloud star was signing autographs and posing for pictures when the man approached her from behind, putting his arms around her.
Cheryl's assistant leapt to her aid and pulled the fan from her shoulders.
The singer, who has dealt with stalkers before, fled to a nearby hotel foyer.
An onlooker told the Daily Star: "If this man had been holding a knife it doesn’t bear thinking about.
"Cheryl had been happily signing autographs and posing for pictures before this crazy-looking guy just lunged at her.
"He managed to get his arm around her before she was ushered away into the hotel.
"She looked really freaked out by it – she looked as pale as a sheet as she fled." via
