DNA tests have proved Hollywood producer Steve Bing is the father of actress Liz Hurley's baby son, his spokeswoman has told the High Court in London.

The test results were revealed on Wednesday at a hearing in the court's Family Division in London.

Lawyers for both parties were at the High Court for the result.

Both parties had agreed not to comment publicly in the interests of the child, according to the spokeswoman.

Row

She said they were "adhering to the request of the court that there be no further publicity in the interest of the child".

Hurley made no comment as she left her London home on Wednesday

Liz Hurley gave birth in April this year, as the row over the identity of the baby's father raged in tabloid newspapers.

Bing had told papers he was not sure he was the baby's father although Hurley had said the couple had been in an exclusive relationship during their 18 months together.

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

Close friends

Now that he has been confirmed as the baby's father he will be expected to live up to a promise he made while the actress was still pregnant.

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

He has also said he would "generously support" the baby.

Hugh Grant and Liz Hurley split in 2000

Hurley has been a tabloid favourite since she and former boyfriend Hugh Grant burst onto the scene in 1994.

The couple split in May 2000 but have remained close friends and Grant visited the actress shortly after she gave birth.

Since the birth of her child, Hurley has kept a relatively low profile.

She is reported to have stayed with Sir Elton John at his mansion in Windsor and a friend's villa in Spain.

She returned to Britain last week, appearing at a charity gala at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London's Park Lane with Sir Elton's partner David Furnish.