Pop star Lily Allen was on the receiving end of a snow assault yesterday after a play fight turned nasty.

According to thelondonpaper - the 22-year-old Smile star had to be protected by a burly minder after a gang of youths started to target her on Primrose Hill.

Cops were called when the snowball fight turned into a vicious brawl as the youths repeatedly aimed at her - one man was beaten up and six of the gang arrested.

A witness told the paper:

"She took it in good spirits at first but it got more relentless. Some people told the gang to stop before people started squaring up to them. As she was going down the hill it kicked off and her bodyguard stepped in."

Emergency calls rise

More than 1,000 calls were made every hour yesterday, similar to New Years Eve, for fights, car crashes, and falls.

Cmdr Simon O'Brien said: "There has been a considerable amount of disorder and snowball fights reported."