G Britney Spears Sept 2003Britney SpearsLooks like Britney Spears's keeping mum about the sex of her baby after all.

A US paper quoted Brit's publicist as saying: "Mother and daughter are doing fine" - apparently letting slip that Britney's carrying a girl.

But now the New York Daily News has published a correction, whilst publicist Leslie Sloane told rival New York Post's Page Six gossip column: "I don't know the sex of Britney's baby.

"I am shocked they would blatantly print a lie and attribute the lie to me." 

The NY Post also said Britney's lawyer, Marty Singer, was "on the case".

Bookies who were taking hot bets on the names Grace and Zara must be cursing.

Britney SpearsPregnant Britney in a bikiniBritney, 23, and her husband of seven months, Kevin Federline, finally announced last week that they expect the patter of tiny feet this autumn, after weeks of speculation over Britney's burgeoning belly.

Britney, who is three months gone, has already had a miscarriage scare - which had prompted the alleged quote from Leslie.

Kev, 27, has two children with his ex-girlfriend, actress Shar Jackson.

He met Britney on tour last year when Shar was pregnant with their son.