Outrage over Heather 'leg' bet

Updated 15.15 Mon Mar 12 2007

A betting shop has caused outrage because it will be running bets on whether Heather Mills's prosthetic leg will fall off on TV.

Sir Paul McCartney's estranged wife Heather Mills is set to star on US TV show Dancing With The Stars.

The former model will be the first contestant on the hit ABC television show to compete with an artificial limb

The 39-year-old, who lost her left leg in an accident 14 years ago, will compete on the American version of Strictly Come Dancing from next month.

Disability rights groups are angry with the online gambling company that will be running wagers on whether Heather's prosthetic leg will fall off during the filming of the show.

Site Bodog.com says it will pay out nearly £200 to anyone who correctly stakes £50 that her leg will fly off during the show.

The site even goes as far as to state: "Heather Mills's leg must fall off, not be purposely taken off, during a dance routine for all 'Yes' wagers to be graded a Win."

The former model will be the first contestant on the hit ABC television show to compete with an artificial limb.

A spokesman for Radar, the disability network said taking bets on Heather is totally inappropriate and offensive.

Heather herself told US show Extra last week that it was very very unlikely it would fall off but said "It would be quite funny to knock one of the judges out".

She said she's doing the programme to "show people that even with a prosthetic leg you can dance" but reports in the US say that rehearsals for the show have left her in a lot of pain.

© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.