MILLS TO SUE. EVENTUALLY.

Heather Mills has decided that the News of the World's allegations that she was a high-charging sex worker in the 1980s are a step too far, and has announced her intention to sue:

Her lawyers' statement said: "Heather is very distressed by this article.

"She continues to recover slowly from her revision amputation operation and has suffered weight loss, anxiety and sleeping problems as a result of the stress and anxiety of the break-up of her marriage.

"The coverage of this in certain newspapers has caused further distress and illness to her.

"The interests of her daughter are of paramount concern. She will defer issue of legal proceedings until the arrangements in relation to the divorce are concluded but intends to sue at that stage all parties (including individuals) who are intent on damaging her reputation."

The story was, certainly, designed to reduce Heather Mills' standing in the mind of the average man; the curiosity is that today's statement holds off the legal action until after her divorce is finalised: surely such a serious attack on your reputation is something you'd want to deal with straight away, rather than writing "sue murdoch" on a piece of paper and sticking it on your fridge door to deal with later?

Additionally, Peter Preston and Max Clifford [Realaudio] appeared on Today this morning discussing the case; Clifford suggested there might be further stories appearing soon.

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