The singer Susan Boyle was rushed to The Priory clinic last night after her shock defeat in the Britain's Got Talent final.

The Scottish star was taken to the private clinic after show staff contacted police to say that she was acting strangely at her London hotel. Police officers were called to assist and Boyle was reportedly taken by ambulance to the Priory in Southgate, North London, escorted by police.

Scotland Yard said: "Police were called at approximately 6pm to a Central London hotel to doctors assessing a woman under the Mental Health Act.

"Police and ambulance attended. The woman was taken voluntarily by ambulance to a clinic. At the request of doctors, police accompanied the ambulance."

When contacted last night a woman at The Priory hospital said that she could neither confirm nor deny that Boyle was there. The 52-bedroom centre specialises in the treatment of mental health problems.

Yesterday it emerged that Boyle was taking time off on the advice of a doctor after losing to the dance act Diversity in the ITV talent show.

TalkbackThames, the television company that produced the show, released a statement offering her "ongoing support" amid newspaper reports that she had run amok backstage after her loss, shouting: "I hate this show." Boyle also allegedly threw water over a floor manager who tried to calm her down.

Yesterday's statement from the company said: "Following Saturday night's show, Susan is exhausted and emotionally drained. She has been seen by her private GP who supports her decision to take a few days out for rest and recovery. We offer her our ongoing support and wish her a speedy recovery."

Boyle has been tipped to make millions from a singing career and bookies are already predicting a No 1 chart hit in America.

The church volunteer appeared on Oprah Winfrey's television show after millions of people logged on to YouTube to watch her spine-tingling Britain's Got Talent audition on which she sang I Dreamed a Dream from the musical Les Miserables.

Her new-found celebrity ensured that the competition kept grabbing the headlines, and the final became the most watched television programme in Britain for five years.

Recent days had seen a backlash against Boyle, who was accused of four-letter outbursts at her hotel and faced speculation that she would not be able to cope with the pressure of fame.

Bookies avoided huge payouts with her surprise defeat.

The emotional distress shown by young finalist Hollie Steel, 10, who broke down in tears during her semi-final performance, raised questions as to whether an age limit should be imposed on the competition.

Diversity took 24.9 per cent of the public vote in the final, above Boyle's 20.2 per cent share. The contestant in third place, the saxophonist Julian Smith, gained 16.4 per cent of the vote.

Just under four million people voted, ITV said.

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