Paul McCartney is reportedly still pushing to reach a financial settlement with Heather Mills before the case reaches High Court in February.

Paul and Heather spent eight hours in a closed-doors session with their legal teams earlier this week to attempt to reach a settlement but after reaching stalemate, a public trial date was set to resolve the issue.

A source close to the former Beatle told the News of the World: “[Paul can’t believe what has happened to him this week.”

“He told us, ‘I’m going through a living nightmare. When is it going to end? I can’t bear all this stress.’”

“Heather’s been offered £50 million, yet she’s still not happy.”

This week’s sticking point is said not to be money but the instance on including a confidentiality clause with the settlement - Heather would be forbidden from publicly talking about any aspect of their marriage or divorce. Paul is said to be keen to keep the issues out of the media for the sake of their daughter Beatrice - but Heather, who earlier accused Paul of being abusive during their two year marriage, wants to “have a voice” to tell her side of the story.

The source continued: “The family have decided that Heather is after publicity - and giving in to a court hearing would play into her hands. She wants her day in court, hell, she wants a week in court if possible.”

A second source close to Heather though told the Mail on Sunday that while the former model will not agree to the gagging order, she too wants to stay out of the court: “It’s not really in anyone’s interests for that to happen.”

The source added that Heather was in tears by the end of the meeting on Thursday: “They spent eight and a half hours debating every fine detail - the wording and the figures, the so-called gagging order, how the payments would be made, a tax provision for Heather, Paul’s visitation rights, how long Heather could be in America and abroad with Bea, how long Paul can take her away for without Heather.”

“When it became obvious that they were not nearing a resolution, she just seemed to lose her composure and broke down in tears.”