McCartney leaves court

Updated 20.37 Thu Oct 11 2007

Keywords: Heather Mills, divorce, Sir Paul McCartney

Sir Paul McCartney and his estranged wife, Heather Mills have emerged from court following a gruelling day of legal wrangling over their divorce settlement.

As he left, Sir Paul flashed his traditional "V" for victory sign while Ms Mills shielded her face from the throng of waiting cameramen and reporters.

The Beatles star and former model insisted their parting was amicable when they first announced their split in 2006 - but the relationship soon turned sour.

Divorce lawyers believe that an agreement will be reached, with some believing the former Beatle will have to shell out as much as £70 million - making it the UK's largest ever divorce settlement.

But as the pair left it was still unclear whether an agreement had been thrashed out.

Discussions between the pair's lawyers took place throughout the day in a sixth-floor room of an annexe to the Royal Courts of Justice.

They arrived separately in cars at the back of the building. Sir Paul wore a sober dark-grey suit and Ms Mills was covered in a blanket as she was helped from the car to the court building by minders.

The Beatles star and former model insisted their parting was amicable when they first announced their split in 2006, but the relationship soon turned sour.

Previous reports suggested Sir Paul, worth an estimated £825 million, had offered Ms Mills £20 million but that she was holding out for a figure closer to £50 million.

The deal is expected to set a record and outstrip the £48 million insurance broker John Charman, 53, was ordered to pay his former wife Beverley in May this year in the biggest contested divorce settlement to date.