As the former Beatle left the Royal Courts of Justice in London he nodded back towards Court 34 and said: "All will be revealed." Moments later Mr Justice Bennett issued a summary of his judgment which ruled that Sir Paul will have to pay Heather Mills a lump sum of £16.5 million as opposed to her claim for almost £125 million for four years of marriage.

Miss Mills, who leaves the marriage with a total of £24.3 million after taking her own assets into account, immediately announced on the steps of the court that she will fight on. She said she was "so pleased it's over" but said she is to continue her legal battle by challenging the judge's ruling that the whole of his ruling should be made public.

Speaking on the steps of the High Court, she insisted she was "very, very happy" with the decision.

Mr Justice Bennett said in his summary that the fundamental issue of the main divorce hearing heard in private over six days last month was what financial provision should be made for Miss Mills. In his ruling, he said there was no evidence that Sir Paul's assets were in excess of £800 million, but were about £400 million.

The judge, who wants the whole of his ruling to be made public, was anxious to end the speculation surrounding the divorce proceedings and figures claimed by the warring couple.

Immediately after the proceedings came to an end, Miss Mills said "it's over" and announced she would be making a statement on the steps of the court to "avoid inaccuracies".

Surrounded by a throng of reporters she said that the settlement secured her own future and that of her and Sir Paul's daughter Beatrice - as well as her charities.

Describing herself as a "campaigning girl" - she represented herself in court with the help of a solicitor - she called on people to do the same but urged couples to do their best to resolve their problems immediately. She said: "Obviously the court do not want a litigant in person to do well, it's against everything that they ever wish, so when they write the judgment up they're never going to make it look in favour."

Miss Mills said the only reason she was speaking out was because Sir Paul had "insisted" on the whole judgment being published. That aspect was the only reason why she planned to launch an appeal.