Angelina Jolie will give birth to twins within weeks, her doctors have said.

Partner Brad Pitt arrived at the Lenval hospital in Nice yesterday with daughters Shiloh and Zahara in tow for a visit with their pregnant mother Angelina Jolie.

The Hollywood actress checked in on Monday night for a pre-booked appointment in the maternity clinic. 

Spokeswoman for the cllinic, Nadine Bauer, said: 'Ms. Jolie came to the hospital last night as part of a preplanned rest period, before she gives birth.

VIP visitors: Brad Pitt arrives to see Angelina Jolie at the Lenval hospital with daughters Shiloh and Zahara today

'The visit has been planned for a long time, there are no complications. She is just resting.'

The 33 year-old's admittance has been planned for some time, according to the hospital.

Miss Bauer said although Miss Jolie is expected to remain in medical care until she has the children she is not expected to give birth imminently.

Patient: Angelina checked into the Lenval hospital last night

Miss Jolie's long anticipated babies are expected to be delivered by French doctor Michele Sussmann and her U.S. gynaecologist Jason Rothbart, who is due to fly to Europe later this week.

Nonetheless some news outlets prematurely announced the twins' arrival yesterday.

At midday French website Closer claimed the exclusive that Miss Jolie had given birth.

Last month America's Entertainment Tonight wrongly claimed that the children had been born.

Expanding brood: Angelina and Brad are expecting their fifth and sixth children

Miss Jolie and partner Brad Pitt, 44, have been staying with their large family in the South of France in preparation for the birth since their arrival shortly before the Cannes Film Festival in May.

They recently moved into the £35million Miraval Estate villa in the French hamlet of Correns, in the Provence region.

The pregnancy was a closely guarded secret until Miss Jolie's Kung Fu Panda co-star Jack Black let slip the confirmation that she is expecting twins during a televised press interview for the film.

Family matters: The couple with their four children at the Venice Film Festival last summer

Miss Jolie then released a statement confirming that her due date was August 19.

The twins will be the fifth and sixth children for Miss Jolie and Pitt. 

France is a decidedly less exotic choice to Jolie's labour after she gave birth to her first biological child, daugher Shiloh Nouvel in Namibia in May 2006.

The couple also have three adopted children, Cambodian Maddox, six; Ethiopian Zahara Marley, three; and Vietnamese Pax Thien, four.

Miss Jolie has previously spoken of her desire to give birth in France and it is thought the family may make the country their permanent home.

She said last month: 'I actually haven't completely decided, but we are certainly thinking of France.

'It's a second language in our house. I'm still learning so I'm not going to attempt it here today, my rusty French. But our children are starting to speak French, so being here is very good for them for their language.'

The couple have been dating since 2005 after meeting on the set of action caper Mr & Mrs Smith the previous year.

Pitt was previously married to Friends star Jennifer Aniston, while Jolie has two ex-husbands, actors Billy Bob Thornton and Jonny Lee Miller.