McCartney 'too old' for Band Aid III

Paul McCartney won't be asked to sing on the new Band Aid single, because at 62 organisers consider him too old.

The former Beatle has been invited to play bass on the updated version of Do They Know It's Christmas? - which originally raised money for the Ethiopia famine in 1984 - and he said last week he hoped to be given a bigger role.

McCartney said: "If they want me to sing on it, if there is a spot for me, I'll do it. I have absolutely no intention of letting younger artists take over this time around."

But former Ultravox star Midge Ure - who also organised Band Aid and the Live Aid concerts - says McCartney won't be invited to sing, because he wants the focus to be on younger acts like Chris Martin, Robbie Williams, Jamelia and Dido.

He says: "Paul McCartney is reputedly going to play bass but I don't think he's going to turn up because he realises it's all about the new kids on the block.

"He came on as the penultimate act at Live Aid so he's got every right to do it.

"But the emphasis is on youth.

"The only person we're talking about having back is Bono, because I'm not sure anyone could sing the line the way he sang it."