No Spice in our lives

Food bug zaps T.O. gig

Sporty Spice may not be in such good shape after all.

Tomorrow's Spice Girls' trip to Toronto has been cancelled because the fittest of the Spice Girls has fallen prey to a "serious food bug."

And there was a girl-power surge of tears around the city after MuchMusic announced the fabulous five-member pop sensation would not be here for an interview or to sign autographs at HMV.

And because of the songbirds' bail-out, The Toronto Sun contest, in which fans were asked to come to the newspaper office dressed as their favorite Spice gal and bring the front page, has been cancelled.

In a press release issued yesterday, the Spice Girls said: "We can't believe this is happening. We were really looking forward to meeting our Canadian fans and the mayor of Toronto."

"I'm devastated," said Mayor Mel Lastman, who had arranged for his granddaughters, aged eight and 11, to meet their idols.

"Both of them are crying," he said. "I feel hurt about it."

Lastman's wife, Marilyn, is upset with the Spice Girls because their fans are mostly young girls, who are easily let down.

"I'm a little teed off with them," she said. "If she (Sporty Spice) is sick, then what the heck can they do? But if it's just politicking ... I know where they live, they're right near the royals."

Danielle Pinnock, 10, -- winner of last Sunday's Spice Girls' lookalike contest at the Eaton Centre -- is sad she won't be able to tell her idol, Scary Spice, about her victory. "I wanted recognition from them, but now that they're not going to be there, that means I can't have it."

Rob Sanderson, retail manager at HMV, said the store is very disappointed for the fans.

"As far as another (Spice Girls') appearance here, we have no clue," he said. "I wouldn't count on that."