Amy Winehouse entered a rehabilitation clinic last night following talks with her record label.

The soul singer is battling drug problems which reached new heights of publicity this week when The Sun published video footage of Winehouse allegedly smoking crack cocaine. Scotland Yard are investigating the 19-minute video, which suggested that Winehouse had snorted powdered ecstasy and cocaine and swallowed six vailum tablets before inhaling from the crack pipe.

Last night Universal Music cancelled Winehouses’s scheduled performance at the NRJ Awards in France on Saturday and released a statement confirming the musician had entered rehab.

“Amy decided to enter the facility today after talks with her record label, management, family and doctors. She has come to understand that she requires specialist treatment to continue her ongoing recovery from drug addiction and prepare for her planned appearance at the Grammy Awards.

Despite the singer’s lengthy and public downward spiral, Universal confirmed it would continue to support her.

“Amy entered the facility by mutual agreement and continues to receive the full support of all concerned.

“Amy is the most talented and important musical artist of her generation and has made huge strides on her road to recovery. Universal Music Group wants nothing more than to see her take the time she needs to come back to full health and fulfil her incredible potential with the label.

“The label has always had the best interests of Amy at heart and has been guided by her family and doctors in the last few months as to the best direction to take.

“All concerned feel that Amy must put her health before all other considerations and will be by her side whenever and wherever they are needed.”

Earlier yesterday, the singer’s father told a BBC radio interviewer that he had investigated the possibility of having Winehouse sectioned under the Mental Health Act. Taxi driver Mitch Winehouse said he had found it was impossible as his daughter was not considered a danger to herself.

“What you have got to understand is that Amy is nowhere near being in a position to be sectioned. She really has to be a danger to herself,” he said.

“You might consider taking drugs is a danger to herself, but unfortunately the authorities don't.”

“The moment she says she wants to go into a facility, within half an hour she will be in a facility. But unless she wants to do it of her own accord, it's pointless.

"You can't lock the door and say, 'You can't come out before you're better'. That's called abduction."

This week’s events are the latest in a string of public embarrassments for the critically acclaimed singer, who's biggest hit is a song about saying "no, no, no" to rehab. In the past year Winehouse has been photographed covered in cuts and bruises with makeup smeared over her face, and snapped in her bra walking the streets barefoot in the middle of the night.

In October she was arrested by Norweigen police for possession of cannabis, and in November her husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. He is currently awaiting trial on remand in a north London prison.

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