It was the pinnacle of a fizzing foxtrot, when Heather Mills, making her U.S. reality TV debut, shimmied across the dancefloor before producing a high kick which lifted her artificial leg above her head.

Wearing a satin gown and gold stilettoes, the 39-year-old impressed judges on the opening night of Dancing With The Stars, which is modelled on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing.

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Heather Mills: Made her debut on the US version of Strictly Come Dancing. The judges praised her but she failed to win over viewers

However, her performance, alongside her professional dance partner Jonathan Roberts, has failed to impress everyone and Heather suffered a vicious on-line backlash following the show.

Miss Mills, who lost her lower left leg in a road accident 14 years ago, received a standing ovation from some members of the studio audience. Other highlights of her routine included a near full splits.

But angry viewers, many of them Beatles fans, posted abusive messages on the website of broadcaster ABC, which models the show on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing.

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Fans left messages online calling Heather is a disgrace and wooden

• VIDEO: Watch Heather Mills in action

• GALLERY: Heather makes her debut on Dancing With the Stars

Roberts and Miss Mills, who is in the middle of a bitter divorce from Sir Paul McCartney, came seventh out of the 11 competing pairs. One judge, Bruno Tonioli, said she had "more guts than Rambo".

Miss Mills said: "I'm just glad I did not fall over."

However, on the show's official website, she was the subject of numerous waspish remarks.

"She is so not going to get the sympathy vote," said one viewer. The public do not vote off contestants until next week.

An excited Heather shows off her fancy footwork

Another, named Nonie823, declared: "She looked as wooden as her leg, so get rid of her."

Olive71 said: "Heather is a disgrace - not sure how she rates to be on Dancing With The Stars.

She is a nobody and only became a somebody when she married the best Rock Musician, Paul. America, boot her off."

Ms Mills, 39, who lost part of her leg in an accident with a police motorbike in 1993, has said it is unlikely her prosthetic limb will fall off during the show.

However online gambling sites are taking bets on it happening.

Fellow contestant, former supermodel Paulina Porizkova said: "If she comes on and shows how warm and wonderful and gracious she is, the people are just going to go for her.

"However if she doesn't, she's screwed."

Were Ms Mills to win, huge stardom is assured. Dancing With the Stars attracted 27.5 million viewers for the finale of its third series.

Getting an energy boost from a banana before she starts recording the demanding show

The public begin voting off contestants, who include world female boxing champion Laila Ali, the daughter of Muhammad Ali, and country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, next week.

But lmillen wrote: "She did a great job, regardless of her disability. She is brave and beautiful," while an amputee wrote that her grace was "impressive".

Another viewer accused ABC of "exploiting the disabled".

Heather has a lighthearted moment while waiting for the results