Katy Perry "bolted" out of a London nightclub when she heard Russell Brand was about to arrive.

The "Part of Me" singer was enjoying an evening at Mayfair hangout Mahiki in a private room, but when someone told her Russell - who split from Katy after 14 months of marriage in December 2011 - was on her way, she quickly left so as to avoid an "awkward run-in."

"She wanted to spend the night singing in the room as it's where her best friend Rihanna normally comes to play when she's in town. Katy was having a great night but bolted out of the door when one of her sidekicks stunned her by telling her Russ was about to turn up. Rather than risk an awkward run-in, Katy didn't take any chances and ordered everyone to move on to a club in Chelsea instead," a source said.

However, the 27-year-old pop beauty needn't have worried as Russell was in the US, where he is facing legal woes after he threw a photographer's iPhone into an office window in New Orleans, where he is filming a new movie.