Mel B in bid to confirm paternity

Mr Murphy, 46, has maintained he is not the father of Angel Iris Murphy Brown, who was born in April.

The singer's solicitor, Gloria Allred, said a DNA test carried out in June had "established paternity, but paternity has not been legally acknowledged."

Ms Brown said Angel needs to know she was "planned and wanted by both of us".

Child support

The 32-year-old performer added: "I want her to know that she has two parents who desire to be responsible for her during her life and who love her so much that they want to be a part of it."

Ms Brown also hopes the pair can settle child support payments.

Ms Allred said they have contacted Mr Murphy's solicitor and are "moving forward".

But Mr Murphy's spokesman, Arnold Robinson, said: "We do not comment on Mr Murphy's personal life."

It was in December that Mr Murphy, who received an Oscar nomination this year for his role in Dreamgirls, was asked by a TV interviewer if he was excited that Ms Brown was pregnant.

"I don't know whose child that is until it comes out and has a blood test. You shouldn't jump to conclusions, sir," he said.

Ms Brown, who is divorced and has an eight-year-old girl, dated Mr Murphy in 2006.

In 2005 Mr Murphy divorced Nicole Mitchell Murphy, the mother of his five children, and according to US reports is currently engaged to music and film producer Tracey Edmonds.

In June the Spice Girls announced they are getting back together for a world tour in December and January.

Last week the band added three new dates to their reunion tour, taking the total number of concerts to 14.