The promotion became a "total marketing flop", the original hearing heard

That misrepresentation had had a wider impact on the company than the High Court had originally found, they added.

Vice Chancellor Sir Andrew Morritt, Lord Justice Chadwick and Lord Justice Rix dismissed the Spice Girls' appeal and awarded Aprilia all its costs.

The final figure to be paid by the Spice Girls has yet to be confirmed as the legal fees have risen due to the cost of the appeal.

The five members of the Spice Girls had argued that they should have won their original claim for unpaid sponsorship fees and guaranteed royalties on a special edition scooter they promoted.

They claimed they signed the deal with Aprilia in March 1998, and Halliwell revealed her intention to leave the following month.

'Total flop'

Aprilia, which sponsored the 1998 Spiceworld tour, had signed the contract with the band to promote its products, including a special Spice Sonic scooter with a silhouette of the five Spice Girls on it.

But the original hearing was told the promotional campaign had turned into a "total marketing flop" when Halliwell left the group.

The company had lost millions of pounds, the High Court heard.

When Aprilia refused to pay the Spice Girls any more on the sponsorship contract, the group launched their action against the company.

Geri: Left the act in May 1998

They claimed �100,000 in unpaid fees, �112,250 in guaranteed royalties on sales of the Sonic Spice scooter and �6,000 for scooters promised to them.

They also wanted the appeal judges to quash Mrs Justice Arden's ruling that they should pay �45,550 damages for scooters Aprilia supplied to the girls, plus legal costs.