Baby Spice sprains ankle in Vegas

Spice Girl Emma Bunton is on crutches after taking a tumble and injuring her ankle on stage in Las Vegas.

But the singer insists she will be able to perform at the reformed girl group's first UK concert this weekend.

"Unfortunately I have sprained my ankle so I am hobbling around on crutches," the 31-year-old said in a statement.

"I am sure to make a speedy recovery," she continued. The Spice Girls are due to open Virgin Atlantic's new terminal at London's Heathrow Airport.

Bunton - aka Baby Spice - was performing with the Spice Girls at the Mandalay Bay Hotel on Tuesday when she had her mishap.

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The singer, who had a baby boy in August, had to be helped on board her plane from Los Angeles back to the UK on Wednesday night.

The plane, a Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747, was renamed Spice One in the band's honour.

More than 33,000 fans reportedly helped Bunton, Geri Halliwell, Melanie Brown, Melanie Chisholm and Victoria Beckham choose the name from a shortlist of three.

Spice One won the internet poll with 56% of the vote, beating Girl Power and Spice Girl.

The Spice Girls are due to perform at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday - the first UK date in a world tour that began in Vancouver, Canada on 2 December.

The group perform three nights at the venue this month before returning there for 14 further dates in January.

The band will also perform their hit 2 Become 1 on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing show.

The five will record their appearance on 13 December, which will be seen on the semi-final show on 16 December.

Last year, Emma Bunton reached the semi-finals of Strictly Come Dancing with partner Darren Bennett.

Via bbc.co.uk