Madonna’s New York-based publicist Liz Rosenberg said the star was going to Africa to continue her work with the Raising Malawi organisation. "She is overseeing the building of a children’s health care centre. She is absolutely not adopting another baby," she said in a statement.

Yacinta Chapomba, a director of local aid group Consol Homes, which has been involved with Madonna’s organisation in the building of a children’s care centre, said an official opening ceremony would be held at the centre. She could not confirm whether the star would attend.

The centre in the impoverished village of Mphandula, 30 miles outside the capital, Lilongwe, will initially house 400 children who lost their parents to Aids.

There has also been much activity at the Home of Hope orphanage where David was cared for. The road to the village of Mchinji have been upgraded, new flowers planted and the children have received new uniforms. Three local police officers have been posted at the orphanage.

Madonna, 48, and her filmmaker husband Guy Ritchie were granted an interim court order on October 12 allowing them to take initial custody of then 14-month-old David. The singer has two other children, Lourdes, 9, and Rocco, 6.

No second adoption for Madonna - April 13 2007
Madonna is indeed heading back to Africa this weekend, but won’t be returning with another adopted child, her spokeswoman has said.

Dispelling rumours that the queen of pop is planning to expand her family by adopting a second African infant during the return trip to Malawi, Madonna’s long-time rep, Liz Rosenberg, told the New York Post, "She is absolutely not adopting another baby."

After causing a media storm when she brought baby David Banda back to England last year amid an adoption process that some claimed was illegal, it looks like Madonna will new be putting all her energy into projects that will directly benefit those still living in the poverty-stricken country.

"Madonna is going to Africa to continue her work with the Raising Malawi organisation. She is overseeing the building of a children’s health-care centre," added Liz.

In an open letter on the charity’s official website, Madonna describes her desire to "provide orphans and vulnerable children with physical assistance, long-term sustainability, and psychosocial programs to address their emotional needs."

Shoppers flock to buy Madonna range - Mar 22 2007
Leather trench coats and sequinned dresses were the most popular items in Madonna’s new fashion range which hit stores today.

Around 50 shoppers poured into H&M’s flagship London branch when the collection launched to the sound of La Isla Bonita.

An H&M spokeswoman said the M by Madonna collection wasn’t expected to sell out today because it went on sale in all 114 of the chain’s UK outlets - although some items were quickly advertised on eBay as being "sold out" despite still being stocked in stores.

Sunglasses priced at £19.99 and kimono dresses for £39.99 were among the collection’s most popular items.

Shoppers in H&M’s Oxford Street store grabbed armfuls of the clothes after doors opened at 9am.

The collection of 30 pieces of clothing plus shoes and accessories is priced from £7.99 for turbans to £149.99 for the leather trench coats.

Madonna teamed up with H&M design team Margareta van den Bosch to create the collection.

The H&M spokeswoman said the chain didn’t expect it to spark the same buying frenzy caused by more limited collections from designers Stella McCartney and Viktor & Rolf.