WHAT HAPPENED TO "ALL WE NEED IS LOVE" PAUL MCCARTNEY

Heather Mills puts her best foot forward on Larry King

Sir Paul McCartney has furiously refuted allegations by his estranged wife Heather Mills that he was physically abusive towards her.The former Beatle is furious over the claims made by Heather in leaked divorce documents, and has vowed to "vigorously" contest the allegations in court. A statement issued by Sir Paul yesterday said: "Our client would very much like to respond in public and in detail to the allegations made recently against him by his wife and published in the press but he recognised, on advice, that the only correct forum for his response to the allegations made against him is in the current divorce proceedings. Our client will be defending these allegations vigorously and appropriately."Among the most serious allegations made in the court papers lodged by Heather's lawyer are the accusations that Paul pushed her into a bathtub while she was pregnant, shoved her over a coffee table and during one row poured red wine over her head and then stabbed her in the arm with a broken wine glass. One of Sir Paul's friends has rushed to defend the singer, branding 38-year-old Heather a "lying, scheming, blackmailing little b***h." The friend also revealed that the former model called Paul, 64, two months ago and demanded half of his billion dollar fortune, saying if he didn't pay up she would "bring him down and destroy him."The friend said: "The gloves are off. Two months ago Heather had a furious row with Sir Paul and showed her true colours."Heather felt humiliated and her only response is to fight an underhand battle. She will stop at nothing to put her hands on his fortune."Heather is a f***ing fantasist. I would not believe her if she told me the sun set in the west."Sir Paul's camp are said to be convinced that the court documents were leaked by Heather in an effort to gain public support ahead of their battle in court.