Stella refuses to comment

Stella today refused to add her congratulations to messages of support that have flooded in since her father, Sir Paul, announced that his wife Heather Mills was pregnant with their first child last night.

The ex-Beatle, now 60, said he was "thrilled" at the prospect of a fourth child, which his 34-year-old former model wife expects in October. But for celebrity designer Stella - just three years younger than her stepmother - a frosty relationship continues.

Lady McCartney's name was conspicuously absent from the guest list when Stella threw a party to celebrate the opening of her first London store this month and last night she remained grimfaced and tight-lipped when she arrived back at her £2 million Notting Hill home after the news of the pregnancy was released.

Sir Paul's three grown-up children - Mary, 33, Stella and their brother James, 25 - were said to have been unhappy that their father was planning to marry again just four years after the death of their beloved mother Linda from breast cancer.

The rift between Stella and Lady McCartney has always been strongest - although Sir Paul's second wife has been at pains to claim publicly that she and Stella get along "brilliantly".

She refused to issue a good luck message to the pair when given the opportunity as she arrived home last night back from her job, as did her boyfriend, publisher Alasdhair Willis.

Sir Paul's brother Mike, however, claimed the whole family was "delighted" with the news. He said: "It will bring a breath of life to the McCartney family. Us McCartneys are very good at being dads."

The former Beatle's cousin, Ian Harris, said: " Paul's absolutely ecstatic." He added: "I'm sure he'll make a great father. He did really well with his other kids - they're all lovely."

It will be the first child for Lady McCartney.