Divorce row Heather backed by friends

Friends of Heather Mills McCartney have rallied round her as the divorce battle with Sir Paul McCartney becomes increasingly bitter.

Their split has dominated the headlines after a document purporting to be a legal response by Lady McCartney set out a catalogue of sensational accusations against Sir Paul.

Heather’s claims, apparently prepared by her lawyers as an answer to Sir Paul’s divorce petition, were leaked to the media.

The ex-Beatle said he would “vigorously” defend her allegations in court but he would maintain his silence until then.

Today Juliet Gellatley, founder of animal rights charity Viva and the Vegetarian and Vegan Foundation, said Lady McCartney was a “lovely, warm” person who worked hard for charity.

“I can’t really comment on how she is coping. All I can do is tell you how I find Heather as a person, which is somebody who is a very lovely, warm, passionate person, somebody which has a big sense of humour – certainly she’s got the ability to laugh at situations and herself.”

Ms Gellatley told GMTV her friend was “genuinely motivated” by the issues she supported and did a lot of work for good causes behind the scenes.

While she had been portrayed as publicity-seeking, most of the media work Lady McCartney did before the split with Sir Paul had been to promote her charitable causes, she added.

She said it was “shocking” how inaccurate reports in the press had been about Lady McCartney.

“There has been a lot of media speculation about what kind of person she is and most of it has been completely inaccurate and written by people who have never met her,” she said.

Asked for her view on claims that Lady McCartney was a “fantasist”, she said: “All I can tell you is what I know of her, and that’s not my feeling at all. In fact, quite the opposite.”