Rachel Stevens could soon be the happy recipient of a baby gift hamper as it has been revealed she is to give birth.

The 32-year-old singer has announced she and her husband Alex Bourne, who she married in August 2009, are expecting their first child later in the year.

Stevens said the pair are "thrilled" and "excited" by the prospect of becoming parents for the first time.

A statement from Stevens' spokesman read: "The happy news comes just a few months before the couple are due to celebrate their first wedding anniversary."

The couple have not yet revealed the due date of the new family addition but pregnancy rumours were ignited in February due to the celebrity's changing body shape.

It was reported last week that Gwen Stefani and rock star husband Gavin Rossdale may be expecting their third child, who would join three-year-old Kingston and Zuma, who is nearly two, in the family.