Heather Mills McCartney to take legal action

Heather Mills McCartney, estranged wife of Beatles star Paul, is to take legal action over newspaper claims that she worked as a prostitute in her 20s.

Lawyers for the 38-year-old ex-model said the News of the World's claims were "untrue and highly defamatory".

The statement added that legal proceedings would be launched against the paper after her divorce from Paul was finalised.

Her lawyers' statement said: "Heather is very distressed by this article." The newspaper stories were also called "vicious slurs".