Saintly baby no trouble for Nicole

Former All Saint Nicole Appleton gave birth to her first baby with Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher yesterday and said: "It was easier than having a tattoo."

The couple named their son Gene Appleton Gallagher, they said in a statement issued by Gallagher's publicist.

Liam's brother Noel came out of London's exclusive Portland Hospital after spending 30 minutes with the new mother and her son.

As he strolled down the street hand-in-hand with his girlfriend, Noel said: "He looks very tired but he doesn't look like anyone yet, but Nicky looks great.

"She doesn't look like she has just had a baby. She looks relaxed, like she's just been shopping.

"She said having the baby was easy and it was easier than having a tattoo.

"If that's the case, I don't really want to know what sort of tattoo parlours she's been to."

Meanwhile, Liam came out of a nearby pub where he had been wetting the baby's head with a pint of Guinness, and ignored all questions about the baby.

- NZPA