Kimberley Walsh wants to have a baby

The Girls Aloud singer – who has been dating musician Justin Scott for seven years - thinks she is finally ready to give in to her "maternal urge" and settle down.

She said: "I'm definitely leaning towards having a family much more. I don't know whether it's my age or because I've got to a point in my life where I'm more happy to settle down and look after someone else rather than just thinking about myself, but I'm feeling that maternal urge."

The 28-year-old star admitted she and bandmate Cheryl Cole – who is married to soccer player Ashley Cole - are constantly encouraging one another to start a family but neither wants to be the first in the group to fall pregnant.

She told Britain's Hello! magazine: "Cheryl and I kind of push each other to go first because we'd love to have a baby around. I say, 'Why don't you have one and I'll just look after it, and Cheryl says, 'No, why don't you?'

"I think I've got the edge because she's already married, so I can use that in my favour. But then she starts with the old ticking clock argument because I'm a couple of years older."

Kimberley also dismissed speculation that she and Justin are planning to marry, but admits she is hoping he will propose to her soon.

She told Hello! magazine: "Justin is stubborn and will only do it when he feels the time is right, not because people tell him he should. Ideally I'd like it to happen before we start a family, but none of it is too far away."