Baby bliss for Macca and Heather Mills

FORMER Beatle Paul McCartney's wife Heather is pregnant with the couple's first baby, it was announced last night.

Heather Mills McCartney, 34, has made no secret of her longing for a baby and rumours of a pregnancy have circulated over the past few weeks.

The couple have been trying for a child since they married in Ireland in June 2002.

It will be the first baby for the former model and the fifth for Paul, aged 60.

Only three months ago, Heather told of her fears that she would never conceive. She told interviewer Michael Parkinson a catalogue of health problems had damaged her fertility.

Discussing pregnancy rumours, she said: "They said I'd been pregnant, which is really hurtful, knowing I've had cancer of the uterus and two ectopic pregnancies.

"The chances of me getting pregnant are about that much (holding up her thumb and finger an inch apart), and I'm sure for any woman out there it's hard enough when your family keeps saying 'when are you going to have a baby, then?', never mind the whole world keeps saying 'oh, she's pregnant this week'."

A spokesman for the couple refused to elaborate on when the baby is due.

Friends and fans of McCartney were delighted to hear he was to become a father again.

Gerry Marsden, lead singer of Merseybeat band Gerry and the Pacemakers, said: "It's absolutely wonderful news. I'm so pleased for Paul, and at his age as well.

"It's good to see there is life in the old dog yet. He'll make a great father."

The Beatles' first manager Allan Williams said: "Good luck to the man. He's proved himself as a great father and I think that's because he has never forgotten his working class roots.

"He was brought up sensibly by his father and he does the same with his children. I think it's great."

Sam Leach, who promoted The Beatles in the early 1960s, said: "Paul's children are a credit to him.

"It would have been so easy for him to spoil them rotten but he made sure they were down-to-earth and they are their own people.

"I'm sure he and Heather will bring their new kid up in the same way. Congratulations to them."

John James Chambers, president of the Liverpool Beatles Appreciation Society, said: "He didn't waste much time, did he. It's fantastic news and I wish them both the very best.

"If it's a boy, it would be wonderful if he names him after John Lennon, as they were best of friends back in the day.

"If it's a girl, maybe he can call her Michelle, after the Beatles song."