(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Nicole Scherzinger is engaged to Lewis Hamilton, her father has claimed.

The singer has been dating the formula one star for around four years, and there have been many rumours they are planning to tie the knot.

Nicole's dad Alfonso Valiente has apparently confirmed the speculation is true, saying he couldn't be happier about the wedding plans.

"You know about the proposal? Yes they are engaged," he told British newspaper The Mail on Sunday. "My future son-in-law is a really nice guy, really down-to-earth. My family all like him. The good spirit is there."

Alfonso and Nicole's mother Rosemary split when she was just a baby, but she's close to both her parents.

Her father was introduced to Lewis last year when the couple came to holiday when him in Hawaii, where he lives. Nicole was born there and Lewis impressed the whole family because he made such an effort with them.

"When he walked into the house for the first time he picked up one of the babies. That went down very well," Alfonso laughed.

"He is sincere and he and my daughter seem genuinely happy together. Lewis is a really good guy. When they came to visit, we hired them a Jeep because he had never driven one before.'

Nicole's spokesperson has insisted the engagement speculation is unfounded.

It's been a good year for the 33-year-old star. Her solo career has gone from strength to strength and she's currently working as a judge on the American version of talent television show The X Factor. (C) Cover Media