Noel Gallagher is consulting his legal team over a tabloid news article which quoted him as criticising his former Oasis bandmates.

The article, published in the News of the World on Sunday, contained a series “derogative remarks” Gallagher had supposedly told a fan.

These included allegedly attacking his brother Liam over his outburst at the Brit Awards last week.

However, a statement published on Oasis' website accused the newspaper of “fabricating lies”.

It said: “In today's paper they write that Noel has made derogatory comments about Liam's new band (which they still insist on referring to as Oasis, another of their many errors).

“The claims made in the article and the quotes attributed to Noel are simply untrue.

The statement added: “What's more, we have learned that the article was written by the same hack journalist who brought fans the 'exclusive' that Liam had recruited a female bass player recently.

“The woman named in that article, who's actually a fan website editor, embarrassed the newspaper with a categorical denial within hours of the story surfacing.”

Liam caused controversy at the Brit Awards last Tuesday when he threw the band's award into the crowd.

The incident sparked an angry war of words between the singer and the show's host, comedian Peter Kay.

(by Jason Gregory)