Posh Spice could end up spending a lot more than she bargained for after a shopping trip to Bluewater hit the headlines.

After more than a year of legal wrangling, the family which runs memorabilia shop, GT's Recollections, has won the right to sue the former chart-topper over her alleged "loud and petulant" claims its David Beckham autographs were fake.

Timothy, Glynis, and Anthony McManus have accused Victoria Beckham of slander, saying trade slumped after her outburst in front of customers.

In November, a judge ruled out most of the claim but three Appeal Court judges overturned the decision last week. Damages could top £500,000.

The McManus' solicitor Michael Skrein told News Shopper: "This is a great result. The family is very determined to restore its reputation as respectable business people.

"The impact of this case on all of them should not be taken lightly, they are very shaken by it."

The judges heard Mrs Beckham, 27, "let rip" in the presence of customers, including two teenage girls, claiming signed photos of her millionaire soccer-star husband were fake.

James Price QC, for the family, says the business is "entirely legitimate" and only deals in genuine merchandise. His defence team now hope to show how damaging Posh's comments were after newspapers, including News Shopper, reported the incident in March last year.

Mr Price said gossip spread through the memorabilia trade and the shop's turnover plummeted 26 per cent in the eight months after the alleged tirade.

Lord Justice Waller said there was "no injustice" in her facing a slander trial if it could be proved a person in her position would be aware anything she said might be reported in the media.

The former Spice Girl, who is expecting a second child, "hotly disputes" the claim and a trial is expected to take place early next year.

July 10, 2002 16:30