A baby for Rebekah Brooks

The former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks and her husband have become parents by a surrogate mother.

Scarlett Anne Mary Brooks was born yesterday at a private hospital in central London.

Ms Brooks resigned as NI chief executive on July 15 last year. Two days later she was arrested on suspicion of phone hacking. and corruption.

She is currently on police bail. Her lawyer has said she denies committing any criminal offence.

Mrs Brooks and her husband, former racehorse trainer Charlie Brooks, whom she married in 2009, spent years trying to conceive before deciding to use a surrogate.

The pair announced the birth saying: "Our beautiful little miracle, Scarlett Anne Mary Brooks arrived at The Portland at 4.05pm weighing 6lbs 1oz."

They also issued a picture of Mrs Brooks cradling the tiny newborn swathed in a white blanket.

Mrs Brooks's spokesman David Wilson said: "They are obviously overjoyed and relieved at a safe birth.

"Scarlett was born at 37 weeks and is perfectly healthy and the family are getting to know one another.

"It is tremendous news for them. They have been trying for five years to have a baby - since they got together.

"They had more than two years of treatment to see if they could, but that has not been possible. They will be forever indebted to the surrogate."

The surrogate mother has not been named and wishes to remain anonymous.

Mrs Brooks, 43, who grew up in Warrington, Cheshire, edited the News of the World and the Sun before becoming chief executive of parent company News International in 2009.

Public furore erupted in July after it was claimed that a private detective working for the News of the World hacked the mobile phone of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler.

Mrs Brooks resigned as News International chief executive on July 15 last year. Two days later Scotland Yard detectives arrested her on suspicion of phone hacking and corruption.

She is currently on police bail. Her lawyer has said she denies committing any criminal offence.