Paul McCartney splashes out on Heather

Sir Paul McCartney spent £8,000 on estranged wife Heather Mills' birthday presents.

The Beatles legend, who is currently embroiled in a bitter divorce battle with the former model, splashed out £2,000 on a Cartier watch and £5,000 on a gift voucher for exclusive London store Harvey Nichols.

He also treated her to a selection of luxury hair and beauty products and a framed picture of the pair drawn by their four-year-old daughter Beatrice.

Paul sent the gifts with a handwritten note that read: "Have an amazing day, despite what has happened. Hope we can be friends. P x"

Although Paul is seemingly trying to repair relations with Heather, who planned to celebrate turning 40 alone on Saturday (12.01.08), she has reportedly hired a firm to spy on him.

Heather is said to have arranged for a former SAS trooper and MI5 spy to follow Paul and get footage of him drunk to improve her chances of getting full custody of Beatrice.

She hired the team to spy on Paul a week before Christmas, but was furious when she discovered the 65-year-old musician wasn't drinking because he was still recovering from his heart operation.

The private eyes will now follow Paul for a week later this month and secretly film him.

A source told a British newspaper: "Heather was furious when she had to cancel the first watch. She was convinced Paul was going to go out with a friend on a drinking session and she would catch him. If Paul wants to have a few drinks with a friend it has no bearing on his capability as a parent, but Heather is clutching at anything to make Paul look bad."

The pair are currently sharing custody of Beatrice. A five-day hearing at London's High Court later this month will finalise custody and divorce arrangements.

Meanwhile, Heather has sold her £3.25 million home to pay her huge legal bills. She failed to make a profit, selling for the same price as she paid for it six months ago.