Emma Bunton was asked to leave a Cafe de Paris nightclub after flouting the U.K. smoking ban.

The 32-year-old Spice Girl sneakily sparked up a cigarette - which is illegal in enclosed public places throughout Great Britain - with her friend while partying at London’s Café de Paris recently, but got caught out by an eagle-eyed security guard.

A source told Britain’s Daily Mirror newspaper: “Emma and her friend tried to hide their cigarettes under the table but one of the security men spotted the smoke and asked them to leave.

“Emma turned bright red and held her face in her hands. She looked mortified and kept saying, ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. I promise.’”

Luckily for Emma - who was also accompanied by her fiancé Jade Jones who she has an eight-month-old son Beau with - the club manager recognized her and let her stay on the proviso she did not do it again.

A club spokesman confirmed: “Security asked Emma to leave after she was caught smoking a cigarette with a female pal. We take smoking in the club very seriously as it is against the law.”

“But Emma was extremely polite and kept apologising so she was allowed to stay.”

England became the last U.K. nation to adopt the smoking ban in enclosed public places and workplaces on July 1, 2007.

If Café de Paris was caught breaking the law it faced a fine of £2,500, while Emma would have been charged just£50.

He might be the richest man in hip-hop but even rapper Jay-Z sometimes has problems getting into nightclubs.Beyonce’s fiance came a cropper when he turned up to swanky London venue Kabaret’s Prophecy with his 15-strong entourage.

They asked for a table - and were turned away, after being told the club was full.

“Jaz-Z turned up just before 2am,” a source told the Daily Mirror.

“He was keen to party and rushed down the stairs to look for a table.

“But he was told there was no way he and his party could be seated as the club was heaving. We were stunned.”

But instead of throwing a star strop and demanding to be seated, Jay-Z calmly left, according to the source.

Jay-Z with fiancee Beyonce“He was a real gent about it. He left, saying ‘This place rocks - I’ll be back’.”

The multi-millionaire rapper had a run of bad luck when he arrived in the capital yesterday, to pick up a GQ Man Of The Year Award.

He was due at London’s Cafe De Paris last night to see one of his protegees, Teairra Mari, perform.

But fans waiting for a glimpse of him were disappointed when he showed up late and refused to mingle with them.

From there, he went on to attend a party for his Rocawear clothing line.

But it took him ages to get in after a problem with his keys - and it was eventually 1am before he showed up at the party.