Judge approves Mills's divorce petition

LONDON, May 12 (UPI) -- A London judge has taken the first step in finalizing the divorce of British rock 'n' roll icon Paul McCartney and former model Heather Mills.

The couple was married for four years and split up in 2006. They are the parents of a 4-year-old girl, Beatrice.

Justice Hugh Bennett approved the divorce petition during a 30-second hearing in High Court Monday, E! Online reported.

"On the petition for divorce presented by Miss Heather Mills, I pronounce the decree nisi of divorce on the grounds of two years' separate," Bennett said. "Sir Paul McCartney has consented to the decree being granted on these grounds."

Granting the petition is the first step in finalizing a divorce under British law.

Neither McCartney nor Mills attended the proceeding, E! Online said.

Their attorneys declined to comment.