THE Spice Girls are to cut short their global comeback tour so that they can go home to take their children to school.

After playing to big audiences in Canada, Britain, Europe and America, the tour is to end back in Canada on February 26.

At the height of their fame in the early 1990s, the girl group were symbols of strong-willed, independent young womanhood. Now four of them have matured into 30-something mothers — only Melanie Chisholm, Sporty Spice, has not had children.

News of the cancellation emerged from Montreal, where band members had played a concert on Thursday night.

The band said in a statement on their website: “Really sorry if we didn’t get to see you this time round,” adding: “We all have other commitments in our lives now but who knows what will happen next.”

Their spokesman added: “The girls want to get back to their families, it’s not about lack of demand.”

He was responding to previous reports of problems with ticket sales. Aafter sell-out dates in Vancouver and California, there was said to have been slow sales for concert dates in China, Australia, Argentina and South Africa.

Earlier in the tour, the band members also denied rumours of infighting.

The Spice Girls made it to number one in the 1990s with hits such as Wannabe and Spice up your life, and some members of the band gained celebrity as individuals.

Geri Halliwell, also called Ginger Spice, became a United Nations Populations Fund goodwill ambassador, and Victoria Beckham, otherwise known as Posh Spice, is married to David Beckham, the former England football captain, and now has three sons. She has published books and hosted television shows.

The family now live in Los Angeles, California, where David plays football for LA Galaxy. They featured on the Sunday Times Rich List last year with an estimated joint worth of £112m.

Melanie Brown, known as Scary Spice, also lives in California and has two children, including a daughter with the American comedian Eddie Murphy.

Geri Halliwell, who led the band as “Ginger Spice”, has a one-year-old daughter named Bluebell. She has never confirmed the identity of the girl’s father.

Emma “Baby Spice” Bunton has a six-month old baby boy named Beau.

Some of the children have joined the group on tour and their chartered jet is reported to have a nursery on board.

Last year’s announcement of a reunion tour was greeted with excitement by fans. Tickets for the first London concert sold out in 38 seconds.

In today’s website statement, they left open the possibility of completing the tour at a later date.

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