More than 40 years on, Beatle's hair gets back to where it once belonged

Yesterday, Sir Paul McCartney seemed to turn the clock back more than 40 years to the Beatles' early days by returning to the hairstyle the group popularised in the Sixties.

Gone was the silvery grey colour he allowed to show after his marriage to Heather Mills broke up last year.

In its place was a rich shade of chestnut and the evocative moptop with its wispy fringe and bouffant-layered hair in a cropped bob covering his ears.

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His attempts to hang on to his youth extended to his footwear as he left his office in central London.

For while he was wearing a smart grey suit with a white shirt, he opted for grey and pink trainers. The Beatles-inspired hairstyle - so-called because of its resemblance to a mop - became hugely popular for a time in the Sixties as the group conquered the world.

Fans also knew it as Arthur, after a quip by George Harrison. Asked what he would call the hairstyle, he replied: 'Arthur'.

In those days, girls fought for a lock of Sir Paul's hair.

Now single again at the age of 65, perhaps his renewed fondness for hair dye and a youthful cut could have something to do with the coterie of glamorous women clamouring to spend time with him.

He has recently been seen in the company of Renee Zellweger, Elle Macpherson and Christie Brinkley.

Sir Paul's hair has long been a point of controversy. His mop has been various shades of brown and grey over the years.

Two years ago, he put out a bizarre statement to defend himself against allegations that Heather Mills had pressured him into dyeing his hair.

He said in a blog on her website at the time: 'It is true that I colour my hair. Wow, shock horror!

'I have actually been doing this for many years now with varying degrees of success, but it's my hair and if you don't like the result I'm afraid it's just too bad but it's certainly nothing Heather suggested.

'I was engaged in this devilish practice years before I met her.' Scroll down for more...