Sir Elton John becomes a father for the second time

David Furnish and Sir Elton John have been civil partners since 2005

Pop star Sir Elton John and his partner David Furnish have become parents for the second time.

Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John was born in Los Angeles on Friday 11 January to a surrogate mother, the couple confirmed to Hello! magazine.

They already have a two-year-old boy, Zachary, who was also born via a surrogacy arrangement.

The couple said they were "overwhelmed with happiness and excitement" by the new arrival.

"Both of us have longed to have children, but the reality that we now have two sons is almost unbelievable," they told Hello!

"The birth of our second son completes our family in a most precious and perfect way."

Last week the couple's UK spokesman issued a statement denying reports that they had become parents again over the Christmas period.

However, they had frequently spoken of a desire for their first son to have a sibling.

In an interview with the Guardian last year, Sir Elton said: "I think it's difficult to be an only child, and to be an only child of someone famous."

"I know when he goes to school there's going to be an awful lot of pressure, and I know he's going to have people saying, 'You don't have a mummy.'

"I want someone to be at his side and back him up."

Sir Elton, 65, and film producer Furnish met in 1993, and have been civil partners since 2005.

The pop singer, whose hits include Your Song, Benny and the Jets and Daniel will juggle fatherhood with tour commitments.

He is set to play several dates in South America next month, followed by a residency in Las Vegas in April and May.