30 AUGUST 2004

Victoria Beckham has confirmed that she is expecting a new baby. The former Spice Girl and her football star husband released a statement at the weekend to say they will soon become a family of five.

"This is fantastic news," they declared. "We are both absolutely delighted. We are planning to have the baby in Spain." Victoria is about 12 weeks pregnant, so her sons Brooklyn and Romeo can expect their new sibling to arrive in early March next year.

The happy news comes after a difficult year for the glamorous couple. David found himself at the centre of a storm of controversy after his personal PA claimed to have had an affair with him. And his wife's attempts to revive her pop career also ran into difficulties.

But the family is now looking forward to spending the coming year together in their adoptive home. Brooklyn is enrolled in an English-speaking school in the Spanish capital and Victoria has likewise made the move to Madrid.

And it would seem that David has made some good friends in the sun-drenched city. The Real Madrid squad playfully tossed their star player around in the air, not to mention throwing him in a swimming pool, upon hearing the news.

Stars who've switched from brunette to blonde