John Lennon gay McCartney fantasies claim

John Lennon had gay fantasies about Sir Paul McCartney, a new book claims.

Respected Beatles author Philip Norman alleges in new book 'John Lennon: The Life' that the musician wanted a sexual relationship with his bandmate Paul and also fantasised about sleeping with his own mother Julia, leaving Paul and the late Beatle's wife Yoko Ono furious.

Both Yoko and Paul agreed to be interviewed for the book but are now distancing themselves from it and Yoko has withdrawn her endorsement.

A source revealed: "Both Sir Paul and Yoko are extremely angry and upset."

It was recently rumoured that filmmaker Sam Taylor-Wood is planning to direct a biopic focusing on the early life of the late Beatle and his relationship with his estranged mother.

The film is set during John's teenage years, at the point where Julia came back into his life – after he was raised by her step-sister Mimi - and began to influence his future with her love of music.

It then follows the musical legend as he forms The Quarrymen with friends Paul and George Harrison, the band they were involved with before The Beatles.

The film has been written by Matt Greenhalgh, who won a BAFTA award for his work on the Joy Division movie 'Control' and will be produced by Robert Bernstein.

John was shot dead aged 40 in 1980 by deranged fan Mark Chapman as he entered the Dakota building in New York.