Gwyneth gives birth

Oscar-winner Gwyneth Paltrow has given birth to her first child.

11:35 15 May 2004

Oscar-winner Gwyneth Paltrow has given birth to her first child.

The actress, married to Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, has named her daughter Apple Blythe Alison Martin.

The star gave birth to the baby girl at a London hospital yesterday following a long labour.

The baby weighed 9lbs 11ozs and both mother and baby are said to be doing well.

Spokesman for singer Martin, Murray Chalmers, said: "Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin are delighted to announce the birth of their first child, Apple Blythe Alison Martin, who was born in London, after a long labour, on May 14th, and weighed 9lb 11oz.

"Both mother and baby are very well."

Martin reportedly said: "We are 900 miles over the moon, and we'd like to thank everyone at the hospital who have looked after us amazingly."

Paltrow announced in December that she and Martin were expecting a baby. The couple are famous for maintaining their privacy and wed in December in an intimate ceremony in Santa Barbara.

The 31-year-old actress is the daughter of actress Blythe Danner and the late director Bruce Paltrow. She has recently hinted that she may follow her mother's example and put her acting career on hold to raise her child.