A former schoolmate of Big Brother's Alex has claimed she was kicked out of secondary school for smoking drugs.

According to Beckenham's Alex Brett the mouthy gymslip mum was expelled from their school, St Mary's Catholic High School, in Woburn Road, Croydon, after being found smoking cannabis in the toilets with some of her friends.

The 24-year-old said she then moved onto Westwood High School, in Spurgeon Road, Upper Norwood, but left when she fell pregnant aged 15.

Mr Brett told the Croydon Guardian he also went to the same primary school - Park Hill Junior School in Stanhope Road, Croydon - as the 23-year-old accounts executive, who has been given odds of just 125/1 by Ladbrokes to win the show.

"I knew her quite well at Park Hill and she was in my class," said Alex, who works in recruitment.

"She was very quiet at primary school and just like an angel - she wasn't what she is now.

"But when she was in Year 8 at St Mary's she and two or three of her friends got done for smoking pot in the toilets. It was a big deal at school when it happened."

And another former pupil of St Mary's, who did not want to be named, said the single mum acted just like she does on Big Brother as she did at school.

"I think she is exactly how I remembered her," said the source.

"I think she will be booted off Big Brother as soon as she's up for eviction - she's so unpopular.

"She's just a scumbag to be honest. While she was at St Mary's she became really mouthy and would row with anyone who stood up to her.

"She was one of those girls who would terrorise you for talking to her."