Both Heather Mills and Sir Paul McCartney want to battle out their divorce claims in open court, according to a report.

The pair are likely to come to verbal blows in an unusual occurrence for a divorce battle, as Mills's lawyers are thought to be requesting an open case and McCartney apparently wants to defend himself in person.

A source told the Daily Mail the former Beatle was prepared to stand up in court in the £825 million case. "He will go all the way with this if need be," the friend declared. "He will go to open court.

"He has nothing to be afraid of. But he will maintain a dignified silence for the moment. At the end of the day there is a little girl caught in the middle of this."

Meanwhile, another source told the paper about Mills's plans. He explained: "She wants to lay bare everything that happened in the marriage and make sure everyone hears her side of the story."