GWYNETH PALTROW - PALTROW SHUNS BRITISH HOSPITALS

Pregnant actress GWYNETH PALTROW has been scared off giving birth in a British hospital, thanks to her famous pal MADONNA.

The stunning SYLVIA star - who is expecting her first child with rocker husband CHRIS MARTIN - is now shunning the prospect of entering a London hospital on the special day after Madonna reportedly relayed terrifying stories of medical blunders to her.

And the MATERIAL GIRL hitmaker, who caused outrage when she labelled British hospitals "old and Victorian" while pregnant with son ROCCO, evidently had an influential effect on Gwyneth - the screen beauty's now decided to give birth at her mother BLYTHE's Hollywood home.

A source tells Britain's DAILY MAIL newspaper, "Madonna told her all these horror stories about how bad the English hospitals are. So now she has decided to give birth in Los Angeles.

"She has always wanted a home birth so she didn't think it would make much difference where she had it. But Madonna, who had lots of complications with son Rocco, told her that if something went wrong America would be the best place to be."