Date given for final McCartney ruling

The final ruling on the divorce battle between Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills has been scheduled for March 17.

Mr Justice Bennett will deliver his judgment after the couple failed to reach a settlement during a five-day hearing at the High Court.

The judge, who is currently overseeing cases in Cardiff, will decide on the custody of their four-year-old daughter Beatrice and the distribution of McCartney's estimated £825 million fortune.

It has been suggested that he will ask the pair if they will allow elements of the ruling to be published, which would put an end to media speculation about the amount of money Mills will receive.

Rumours have ranged from £10 million to £60 million over the course of the high-profile battle.

If either party objects to the ruling, the case will be held in public at the Court of Appeal.