Heather Mills believes her marriage to Sir Paul McCartney failed because he didn't want a ''strong woman''.

The 47-year-old model married the Beatles legend - with whom she has 11-year-old daughter Beatrice - in 2002 but they separated four years later and she has hinted he was too ''insecure'' to cope with her forthright ways.

Asked why she thinks their marriage went wrong, Heather - who has been single since splitting from holiday rep Jamie Walker two years ago - said: ''I say what I think. If I think something is wrong I'll say it. If I wasn't that type of person we'd still be married now.

''But for years I was attracted to these very strong, powerful men who think they want a strong woman but actually they want someone who does what they want.

''The men who seem the strongest are usually the most insecure. But I've finally broken that cycle.

''My last boyfriend was the opposite, but he is the most lovely, secure, honourable man.''

Heather was vilified after her lengthy divorce battle from Paul and says the fall-out was harder to cope with than having part of her left leg amputated after an accident in 1993.

Referring to John Lennon's wife Yoko Ono's comments than being married to a Beatle ''turns the world against you'', Heather told Event magazine: ''I like Yoko. She's a very wise, very lovely woman. And yes, for some reason it's very hard to be married to a Beatle.

''[Paul's first wife] Linda had it tough, Yoko had it tough and what happened to me after the divorce ... losing my leg was easier to cope with.

''There were times when I was really unhappy. When I woke up in hospital and was told I'd lost my leg I always knew I could cope, I always knew everything would be all right.

''When I got married I thought I'd be protected but I wasn't, I was hung out to dry. It's the worst thing I've ever gone through and now I'm over it.''

Despite her feelings, Heather insists she has no regrets about the marriage.

She said: ''I married Paul because I was completely in love with him. He had so much energy - he was a cross between Peter Pan and Captain Hook.

''I wasn't even a Beatles fan. I barely even knew any of the songs. I liked one song by Wings but that was it. He loved that.

''But anyone who thinks marrying a rock legend is going to be paradise ... it just isn't.''