Cheryl Cole was greeted by a flock of waiting paparazzi when she arrived in America last night to begin work on her debut solo album.

The Girls Aloud star looked surprised as flash bulbs caught her sporting a modest grey dress outside LAX airport in Los Angeles.

Cole is due to work on her album, which is due out on October, with Black Eyed Peas star Will.I.Am.

Cheryl Cole arrives at LAX airport in Los Angeles late last night.

The singer has taken a break from judging The X Factor in order to make the trip to America.

But she won't be alone – her footballer husband Ashley Cole is due to arrive in Los Angeles later this week to begin pre-season tour with Chelsea.

As previously reported on Entertainmentwise, Cole is reportedly set to star as a judge on the forthcoming US version of The X Factor.