Fergie urges Mills to "get off public stage"

Sarah Ferguson has urged Heather Mills to "get off the public stage" if she is finding media intrusion too difficult to handle.

Sir Paul McCartney's estranged wife has criticised the British press in a series of interviews in London and the US this week.

Ferguson said she sympathised with the former model's frustration because she had been the subject of unflattering newspaper reports herself since her divorce from Prince Andrew. She told the Associated Press: "It's quite difficult when you're in it - when it's right in your face."

However, she added: "But there's always a reason for it, so maybe you have to change something in yourself. It's give and take.

"If you are on the public stage, it's your public stage. Otherwise, don't be on the public stage. That's what I really think. If you're on it, accept it, if you don't want to accept it, get off it."