Cheryl Cole gave a clear indication she's well on the road to recovery as she was pictured yesterday for the first time since contracting malaria. Wearing not a scrap of make-up with her hair hanging loose, the 27-year-old smiled at photographers as she picked up a coffee from her local Starbucks in Surrey.

Wearing jeans, an off-the-shoulder white jumper and lace vest, the fresh-faced singer looked thrilled to be out in the fresh air again following nearly a month in bed. Looking noticeably fuller in the face and a healthier size compared to her increasingly skinny frame in recent months, it appeared Mrs Cole has been enjoying home-cooked meals from her mother Joan Callaghan, who has been assisting her daughter's recovery.

Clearly in a sociable mood after so many weeks recuperating, the star was more than happy to chat to fans and pose for photographs in the coffee shop. Last night, her spokesman said she wouldn't be going back to work for a few weeks yet, but said her friends and family were 'pleased she is up and about'.

Mrs Cole left hospital two weeks ago to recuperate at her Surrey mansion, which she used to share with estranged footballer husband Ashley.

Looking noticeably fuller in the face and a healthier size compared to her increasingly skinny frame in recent months, it appeared Mrs Cole has been enjoying home-cooked meals from her mother Joan Callaghan, who has been assisting her daughter's recovery.

Clearly in a sociable mood after so many weeks recuperating, the star was more than happy to chat to fans and pose for photographs in the coffee shop.

Last night, her spokesman said she wouldn't be going back to work for a few weeks yet, but said her friends and family were 'pleased she is up and about'.

Mrs Cole left hospital two weeks ago to recuperate at her Surrey mansion, which she used to share with estranged footballer husband Ashley.

Her fellow X Factor judge and friend Simon Cowell revealed recently she was 'bored out of her mind' taking it easy at home.

The Girls Aloud singer was diagnosed with malaria a few days after she collapsed at a photoshoot on July 3.

She was originally diagnosed with severe exhaustion, but doctors soon found out she had contracted the plasmodium falciparum strain of the parasite - one of the deadliest forms of malaria.

It is believed the pop star was bitten by an infected mosquito while on holiday to Tanzania with close friend American dancer Derek Hough in June.

After falling ill, she was forced to cancel her appearance at the Manchester live auditions of the new series of the X Factor and the boot camp stage, where she was replaced by Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger.
Cole's PR denied reports on Tuesday that Cole was worried about her future on the X Factor over fears Scherzinger would replace her full-time.

While Cole is hoping to be well enough to take part in the judges' houses section of X Factor - when Dannii Minogue is expecting to return from maternity leave - she has pulled out of her performance at the V Festival next month.

Speaking earlier this month, Cowell explained: 'I've had a few text messages from her over the last few days.
It was serious and she was ill - we didn't realise how ill. But judging by the text messages I've had, she is definitely looking forward to getting back to work. 'I think our job is to make sure she doesn't come back too quick because I think she's bored out of her mind and going crazy.' He added: 'The texts are getting increasingly feisty so she's on the mend!'