Mills photographed wearing fur

Photographs of Paul McCartney's estranged wife Heather Mills wearing a mink coat have been published by a British newspaper.

Mills, an enthusiastic anti-fur campaigner, is a vocal supporter of animal rights group People for The Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) but was reportedly dropped by the organisation last month.

Stills from the video footage - filmed in 1989 at a friend's wedding - printed in the Daily Mirror show Mills sporting a mink coat made from up to 40 of the animals, according to a British Fur Trade expert.

Last year, Mills branded British supermodel and former PETA supporter Naomi Campbell "shallow and hypocritical" for wearing fur.

Mills' sister-in-law Diana Karall says: "She really loved that coat. When I see her anti-fur campaigns now, I always chuckle.

"It's laughable that she's called so many celebrities hypocrites. She's styled herself an anti-fur campaigner but was proud to be in her mum's mink.

"The picture are from long ago but no-one's aware of her previous love of fur. The charities she campaigns for will feel let down."