Paul McCartney is reportedly set to offer Heather Mills an extra £20million in their divorce settlement if she gives him custody of their daughter Beatrice.

The couple had previously maintained that they would have joint custody of the three year old girl but now Paul is considering the payoff in order to avoid a bitter custody battle in court.

A source claiming to be close to the former Beatle told the News of the World: “Paul only wants what’s best for his little girl. She means everything to him. But his fear is that if Heather gets custody then she could make things really difficult for him in the future to have proper contact with Bea.”

“He is worried she will slowly cut him out of his daughter’s life and he couldn’t bear that.”

“Paul wants the divorce and custody of Beatrice settled in a one-off transaction. He has told Heather, ‘It’s simple—I get Beatrice, you get your money and that’s it’. Essentially the £20million goes in her pocket and is over and above her divorce settlement.”

“Paul has taken the attitude that with his wife everything boils down to money.”