In his first television interview since his wife Linda died of breast cancer, Sir Paul said women should not think they were being "too fussy" for insisting on regular checks for the disease.

He stated: "Even though you think you may be being a bit too fussy, or even though the doctor tells you you're being a bit too fussy, it's worth getting it checked, because the sooner you get to it the more they can do about it."

He added that, in Linda's case, the cancer was detected too late.

"Although we had two-and-a-half years of treatment, it really turned out there was nothing much we could have done about it."

Screening

Sir Paul also urged all women eligible for regular breast cancer screening to make sure they received it.

He said it could be a life-saver.

The interview, which was screened on ITN's lunchtime bulletin, coincided with the launch of Wide Prairie, an album of Linda McCartney's solo songs.

It also comes at the end of a month dedicated to breast cancer awareness.

According to the Cancer Research Campaign, one in 11 British women will develop breast cancer during her lifetime.