David Beckham's wife Victoria has given birth to her fourth child, a baby girl.

The birth took place by Caesarean at Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles.

The baby weighed 7lbs 10oz and is the first girl for the couple after three boys Brooklyn, 12, Romeo, eight, and Cruz, six.

Mrs Beckham, the former Spice Girl, has previously spoken of her desire to have a daughter.

After the birth a spokesman said: "Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz are excited to welcome their new baby sister to the family."

The couple were aware that the baby was to be a girl. In March, Beckham told People magazine: "Obviously, having three boys, you kind of expect another one, so finding out a little girl is in there is surprising, but, obviously, we are over the moon."

Last week the player took a photograph of his heavily pregnant wife in a bikini, when she wasn't looking, and posted it on Facebook.

She had previously told Women's Wear Daily that she did not like being photographed when pregnant, saying last month: "I don't think anyone needs to see that, other than my husband. Absolutely not."

David Beckham met the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge when they arrived in Los Angeles on Friday night. On Saturday he scored the winning goal in a game for his team, LA Galaxy.

(Read by Renee Haines. Renee Haines is a journalist at the China Daily Website.)