Paul McCartney helped free elephant

The Beatles legend, 70, pleaded with India's forest minister Dr Patangrao Kadam for the animal's release.

Sir Paul McCartney has helped to free an elephant kept chained in the dark for seven years.

The Beatles legend and actress Pamela Stephenson, 62, pleaded with India's forest minister Dr Patangrao Kadam for the animal's release.

Yesterday it was revealed that 13-year-old Sunder will be rescued from his shed hell in India's Maharashtra district and moved to a wildlife centre.

According to The Sun newspaper the 70-year-old had written: "I have seen photographs of young Sunder, the elephant kept alone in a shed at a temple and put in chains with spikes.

"Years of his life have been ruined by keeping him and abusing him in this way.

"Enough is enough. Get Sunder out."

Mimi Bekhechi, of animal welfare campaigners PETA, said yesterday: "We are grateful to the forest minister for agreeing to liberate Sunder."

The musician is used to writing notes to express his opinion and use it as a force for change.

He recently pledged his support for Russian all girl punk group Pussy Riot.

The 'Hey Jude' singer wrote a letter in support of the band's members - Maria Alyokhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Yekaterina Samutsevich - ahead of their verdict in their trial for ongoing trial for hooliganism motivated by religious hatred.

The band was arrested after performing a song attacking Russian leader Vladimir Putin on February 21 in Moscow's Christ the Saviour Cathedral. Paul has expressed his hope that the law will come down in favour of freedom of expression.

He penned: "I hope you can stay strong and believe that I and many others like me who believe in free speech will do everything in our power to support you and the idea of artistic freedom."