Macca's tryst with wife of millionaire lawyer on the day of his divorce hearing

Sir Paul visited wealthy lawyer's wife Nancy Shevell at Blake's Hotel in Chelsea two nights running - just as he and Heather Mills were unsuccessfully trying to thrash out a divorce deal in court on 11 October.

'Dormant volcano' Heather Mills explodes

Sir Paul, 65, and Ms Shevell, 47 - a powerful figure in East Coast business and political circles and a millionairess - were not seen together in public when they met.

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But now they have been photographed in America walking on the beach, sharing meals and kissing. They have been seen together on repeated occasions in the Hamptons resort on New York's Long Island, where they both have homes.

Whether their embrace in Sir Paul's car after he drove her home was anything more than a goodbye kiss between old friends remained unclear today.

Ms Shevell and her husband Bruce Blakeman, a commissioner of the New York Port Authority and a partner in a top New York law firm, are old friends of Sir Paul and his late wife Linda. In 1998 Mr Blakeman planted a tree at an American memorial service in honour of Linda.

Sir Paul, 65, and Ms Shevell had dinner last Friday at an East Hampton sushi restaurant, where they stayed until 3am, according to the Sun.

He visited her at home before stopping off at a lingerie store, Top Drawer, to buy gifts. They were seen outside a cinema before dinner.

The next day they were seen again, having breakfast at a café and strolling along the beach near Sir Paul's home. An onlooker was quoted as saying: "Later Paul dropped Nancy off. As they were saying goodbye, he leaned over and gave her a kiss before she got out."

According to the report the pair were also seen together half a dozen times during August.

Ms Shevell and Mr Blakeman have been married for 23 years and have a teenage son, Arlen. She recently dropped her husband's name. Both have been seen without wedding rings.

The couple are very influential in political circles, supporting the Republicans. They donated money to George Bush's presidential campaign in 2004.

Described as a "powerful, feisty woman from a very wealthy family", Ms Shevell is vice-president of her family's successful transport firm, based in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

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Meanwhile Heather Mills, 39, who gave a series of furious interviews last week, has fired another broadside at Sir Paul in this week's Hello!, accusing him of being mean with his money and refusing to divorce her unless she stays silent about their marriage.

McCartney has remained in the US following a series of increasingly bitter rants from his estranged wife Heather Mills.

Last week, Miss Mills dominated the headlines after a series of extraordinary appearances, in which she gave a series of shrill interviews on British and American television.

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In two days of outbursts, the 39-year-old said she had been driven to the brink of suicide by newspaper stories she claimed were inspired by Sir Paul, and that his fashion-designer daughter Stella had been "jealous" of her.

She also compared her problems to those of Kate McCann, mother of missing toddler Madeleine.

Earlier this year, McCartney was spotted at a concert in New York with Renee Zellweger, and days later they shared a candlelit dinner.

The 38-year-old Bridget Jones actress has previously admitted having a crush on him.

Days earlier he had slowdanced could be with former model Christie Brinkley, the 53-year-old ex-wife of singer Billy Joel, at a concert in The Hamptons, where he has a mansion.

A spokesman for Sir Paul declined to comment.