The Spice Girls were spotted in rehearsal at the Ford car plant in Dagenham, east London, yesterday for Sunday night's performance, reported the Daily Mail online.

Standing on top of black London cabs Victoria Beckham, Geri Halliwell, Emma Bunton, Mel C and Mel B stepped back into character as their alter-egos, Posh Spice, Ginger Spice, Baby Spice, Sporty Spice and Scary Spice to rehearse for what is expected to be a show-stopping performance for their fans worldwide.

In an interview earlier in the year Mel C, aka Sporty Spice, first fuelled rumours of a Spice Girls Olympics reunion when she said she would consider it a snub if the band were not involved in the event in some way.

"We literally flew the flag - and Geri even wore it - around the globe. We were proud to be British and to be successful internationally, and we were the last band probably to do that. So I think it would be a real shame if we were not acknowledged in some way at the Olympics."

Other stars seen at yesterday's rehearsals included Brian May, the Pet Shop Boys, Jessie J, Annie Lennox, Tinie Tempah and George Michael, who has already revealed he is to perform.

David Arnold is the closing ceremony's musical director.

The composer, who has written music for Bond films and the hit BBC show Sherlock, added that it would be based around 30 classic pieces of British music according to the Daily Mail.