Elle preparing for custody battle

Elle Macpherson is bracing herself for a messy custody battle over her two children with former long-time love Arky Busson.

The Aussie supermodel and her Swiss financier fiance split last June after nine years together, saying they had "decided to spend some time apart to consider their future".

However, things seem to have turned nasty with Busson now demanding sole custody of their boys, seven-year-old Flynn and three-year-old Aurelius Cy.

“He's jealous and he wants to hurt her," a friend of the 42-year-old model said, before adding: "He doesn't want her to have a life without him."

Both parties have tried to shield their children from any acrimony and still celebrate the children's birthdays together.