In contrast to the media circus that surrounded previous hearings, the four-year divorce of Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills finally ended today with a quick, uncontested pronouncement by a High Court judge.

Neither the millionaire singer nor the former glamour model were in court to hear Mr Justice Bennett pronounce a decree nisi on the grounds that the couple have been separated for two years.

Sir Paul's legal team of Nicholas Mostyn, QC, and Fiona Shackleton both declined to comment as they left the court.

The last time Ms Shackleton appeared in this case she was famously doused with water by an angry Ms Mills.

The long and public divorce fight ended on March 17 when Mr Justice Bennett awarded Ms Mills £24.3 million of Sir Paul's estimated £450 million fortune.

The judge released his ruling the following day despite a last-minute attempt by Ms Mills to stop its publication. She was criticised for being a "less than impressive" witness and for giving "inconsistent and inaccurate" evidence.

In contrast, Mr Justice Bennett praised Sir Paul for giving balanced evidence during the six-day hearing. “He expressed himself moderately, though at times with justifiable irritation, if not anger,” the judge said. “He was consistent, accurate and honest.”

Sir Paul, 65, married Miss Mills, 40, in 2002, four years after his first wife Linda died of breast cancer. They separated four years later.

They have a daughter, Beatrice, aged four.

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