If indeed I am the father, I will be an extremely involved and responsible parent

Stephen Bing

"Ms Hurley and I were not in an exclusive relationship when she became pregnant," his statement said.

"It is her choice to be a single mother. The insinuation that I would not care about the well-being of another human being has been very hurtful to both myself and my family.

"If indeed I am the father, I will be an extremely involved and responsible parent."

Hugh Grant split with Elizabeth Hurley last year

Bing, the millionaire grandson of New York real estate magnate Leo Bing and a producer of such films as Get Carter, reportedly began dating Hurley in the autumn of 2000.

The former Est�e Lauder model split with long-term partner, Notting Hill star Hugh Grant, in May 2000 after 13 years.

Hurley, 36, who starred in the film Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, announced last month that she was expecting a baby with Bing in April.

But Bing has been silent about Ms Hurley's pregnancy until now.

According to the Daily Mail, he began seeing a lesser-known American actress named Brenda Swanson last summer while still involved with Hurley, whom he ultimately left for Swanson this autumn.

The newspaper said he is reported to have demanded a paternity test to determine if he is the father of Hurley's child and is communicating with the actress through lawyers.

Hurley's agent in Los Angeles declined to comment on the report or on Bing's statement and referred inquiries to her spokeswoman in London, who could not be immediately reached for comment.