Ed Sheeran and Nicole Scherzinger,'dating' after she turned to his music to heal Lewis Hamilton heartache

Nicole Scherzinger has allegedly found herself a new toy boy in none other than Ed Sheeran.

Nicole, 37, and Ed, 24, have been spending more and more time with each other just lately and are said to be 'in the early stages of dating', according to The Sun.

While the pair have been friends for some time, things allegedly stepped up a gear when the former Pussycat Doll split from her long-term boyfriend Lewis Hamilton 30, in February.

According to reports, the former X Factor judge found comfort in Ed's songs and their connection spiralled from there.

In happier times: The Thinking Out Loud hit-maker, pictured here in November 2014, split from 24-year-old Athina Andrelos in March. 

Nicole joined the Don't singer backstage at one of his Wembley Stadium gigs last month and three days later he whisked her off to his home town in Suffolk, where they enjoyed a drink together at his local pub.

Moving on: Ed said last month that his love life has been 'non-existent' since his split for the pretty brunette

A source told The Sun’s Dan Wootton: 'As far as he’s concerned they were in the early stages of dating and he’s been open about it with close friends and colleagues.  

Another source told the newspaper: 'When she split from Lewis, she was heartbroken but ended up playing Ed’s songs on a loop.'

A friend of Nicole's added: 'They're extremely close. Nicole says he is the male version of her.'

 Nicole split from Lewis in February having dated on and off for seven years.

Talking about the reasons for going their separate ways, Nicole hinted that she and Lewis had become 'complacent'.

She told People.com: 'Sometimes people stay in relationships because they get complacent, because it's comfortable for them, because they don't want to be alone.