The 31-year-old former Scary Spice was taken to hospital in Santa Monica, California, at 5.30pm yesterday local time after her waters broke.

The as-yet-unnamed baby girl was born just after midnight.

A spokeswoman for the singer said: "The baby is completely healthy with a good head of hair. Mother and baby are now resting.

"No name has been decided on as yet, and she is purely known as Baby Brown."

The singer - real name Melanie Brown - already has an eight-year-old daughter, Phoenix Chi, by ex-husband Jimmy Gulzar.

She now faces a paternity battle with Hollywood star Eddie Murphy.

The couple had a whirlwind romance last year and Mel claims Eddie is the father of her new baby.

But she was left stunned when the Dreamgirls star went on a TV show to tell the world their relationship was over, and said he would demand paternity tests.

Mel insists the actor is the father and is "astonished" by his claims.

"There is absolutely no question that Eddie is the father," she said.

Mel B is the latest Spice Girl to become a mum.

Geri Halliwell gave birth to daughter Bluebell Madonna last year and Victoria Beckham has three boys.

Emma Bunton, aka Baby Spice, is expecting her first child this summer with boyfriend Jade Jones.

The girl band are rumoured to be reforming for a one-off charity gig towards the end of the year.

Baby shower for former Scary Spice - Mar 13 2007
Former Spice Girl Melanie Brown put her troubles over ex-partner Eddie Murphy aside to enjoy a baby shower thrown in her honour.

The 31-year-old singer, who is due to give birth in about a month, held the American-style celebration in Beverly Hills last week, according to People magazine.

Brown, aka Scary Spice, is adamant that comedian Murphy is the father of her unborn baby. But last year he shocked her by revealing on a TV show that their relationship was over, and saying he wanted a blood test to determine the child’s paternity.

People reported that Brown began Friday’s revelries in a bungalow at the Beverly Hills Hotel, getting ready with female friends before joining more than 30 guests in a private room by the tennis courts.

A source said the shower featured a cake in the shape of a woman’s pregnant belly clad in an animal-print loin cloth, and guests lapped up Dom Perignon champagne.

Brown and Murphy, 45, began dating over the summer after his divorce in April from his wife of 12 years, Nicole Mitchell.

But in December, the Dreamgirls star was asked on a Dutch TV show about Brown and her pregnancy. "We’re not together anymore," he said. "And I don’t know whose child that is until it comes out and has a blood test. You shouldn’t jump to conclusions, sir."

The same night he appeared in public for the first time with new girlfriend Tracey Edmonds at the film’s New York premiere.

Brown later released a statement insisting Murphy was the baby’s father and saying she was "upset and distressed" by his comments.

Producer Edmonds told Chicago’s Power 92 radio station of Murphy and Brown last week: "There’ll be a paternity test and if it’s his then he’ll be responsible."

Mel B slated by angry Eddie fans? - Jan 8 2007
Mel B has reportedly called police because fans of actor Eddie Murphy have been standing outside her house hurling abuse.

A police officer is now thought to be guarding the LA property after the former Spice Girl - five months pregnant with a child she says is Eddie’s - endured cruel taunts.