Former Beatle Paul McCartney was ordered on Monday to pay his estranged wife Heather Mills 24.3 million pounds ($48.7 million) after an acrimonious divorce battle.

McCartney, 65, married the former model and charity campaigner Mills, 40, in 2002 but they split four years later, blaming media intrusion into their private lives. They have a daughter, Beatrice, aged four.

Speaking outside the court, Mills criticized McCartney's lawyer, accusing her of handling the case badly and of calling her names.

"I am so glad it is over," she added. "We are very, very pleased."

[reuters]