Mills in 'humiliating' airport incident

Heather Mills was reportedly left "humiliated" last week after being ordered to have her artificial leg checked for explosives at Heathrow airport.

The former model was passing through security for a flight to the US when she was told that the false limb would have to be swabbed as it had set off an alarm, according to The Mirror.

An onlooker told the newspaper: "Heather was flabbergasted. There was a brief impasse but she said nothing, just staring in disbelief.

"She quietly went and sat down, shaking her head, and pulled up her trouser leg for an official to hold up her false limb and swab it.

"Heather looked furious but bit her tongue. She appeared humiliated at having her prosthetic leg highlighted in front of other passengers."

Defending the security measure, a spokeswoman for airport owners BAA commented: "She was swabbed because something set off the alarm in the metal detector archway.

"Staff could not see inside the leg so it was swabbed instead. This would be the same protocol if a passenger had a cast on a broken arm or leg."

Mills, who was flying out to America to launch her range of meat-free ready meals, did not have to remove the limb for the security procedure to take place.