BRITNEY SPEARS - SPEARS FUELS PREGNANCY REPORTS

Pop beauty BRITNEY SPEARS has fuelled rumours she's pregnant with her first child - by gaining weight around her stomach, taking time off work and quitting smoking.

American entertainment columnist NORM CLARKE is convinced the 23-year-old TOXIC singer is pregnant with husband KEVIN FEDERLINE's third child, and expects her to announce the good news imminently.

Clarke says, "Britney Spears... not a girl, soon to be a mummy. She's pregnant. Look for the announcement any day now."

A source adds, "All the signs are there. Britney has given up (smoking). And she has been piling on the weight, without worrying about her figure. She has taken lots of time off work so she can relax."

Federline already has two children - daughter KORI, three, and eight-month-old son KALEB - with ex-girlfriend SHAR JACKSON.