McCartney & Mills - GAGGED!

SIR PAUL McCARTNEY and his estranged wife HEATHER MILLS have been banned from discussing their divorce proceedings with the media, after a judge slapped them with a gagging order.

The former couple began the battle over their financial settlement at London's High Court on Monday, where ex-glamour model Mills is said to be representing herself in her fight for a share of the singer's estimated $1.65 billion personal fortune.

Mr Justice Bennett imposed the court order at the beginning of the hearing to prevent details of their divorce settlement being leaked to the media.

A court source says, "The judge made it clear at the start of proceedings that the hearing was being held in private and that all evidence should remain strictly confidential. All parties were warned about leaking information.

"Anyone caught revealing confidential details of the court hearing, set to last five days, is likely to be found in contempt of court and fined."

But the settlement details may never reach the public domain unless one of the parties involved objects to the final decision and takes the case to the Court of Appeal.

McCartney and Mills, who have four-year-old daughter Beatrice together, split in May 2006 after four years of marriage.