The boy has been named Lennon Francis Gallagher, after Liam's idol - murdered Beatle John Lennon.

Francis could be a homage to Francis Lee, a former star with Manchester City.

Pregnant pause: Edinburgh Festival date last month

A spokeswoman for the exclusive London's Portland Hospital said Patsy, 31, gave birth at 8.48pm on Monday night. The baby was delivered by Caesarean section.

Beaming father Liam Gallagher left the hospital shortly after 11.30pm. He was driven off in a black Mercedes after the chauffeur shook hands to congratulate him.

Before leaving, he wound down the window to speak to reporters asking after wife and baby.

"She's fantastic. He's gorgeous," he enthused.

Later the Oasis star, wearing black trousers, a black top and black leather jacket, returned to his north London home.

There he added that both son and mother were doing fine. "Yeah, he's good, she's good," he said.

Liam visits Patsy and Lennon in hospital

A spokesman for the Oasis management said baby Lennon weighed just over 6lbs.

Actress Elizabeth Hurley, a good friend of Patsy for many years, is said to have been chosen as his godmother.

Patsy's first son seven year-old James, by her marriage to Simple Minds frontman Jim Kerr, was one of the first visitors at the London hospital early on Tuesday morning.

He arrived wearing his blue school uniform, accompanied by his nanny.

Patsy's marriage to Kerr was her second. She was previously the wife of Dan Donovan, the keyboard player with Big Audio Dynamite and the son of photographer Terence.

She and and Liam went public with their relationship in early 1996 - a year after they became friends.

They married in 1997 in a Marylebone register office service after cancelling original plans for a more lavish event because of media intrusion.