Pavarotti's family agree on will

Mantovani married Pavarotti in his home town of Modena in 2003

The family of Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti have reached a "friendly agreement" over his inheritance, according to the lawyer of his widow.

The deal follows reports of a dispute between Nicoletta Mantovani and the opera star's three daughters from his first marriage.

Pavarotti's relatives had been left confused after he allegedly drafted two wills before his death last year.

The singer's fortune is estimated at up to 300m euros (£237m).

'Truly unseemly'

It has been reported the last will Pavarotti wrote excluded his daughters from a trust fund worth more than $15m (£7.5) in US assets.

Mantovani's lawyer, Giorgio Bernini, did not provide any further details about her legal agreement but said a judge will confirm the deal by the end of this month.

Last October Ms Mantovani, who has a five-year-old daughter with Pavarotti, made a rare appearance on Italian TV to deny the row. She said: "Between me and his daughters, there is no disagreement".

"The press and television that is trying to incriminate that relationship is truly unseemly," she added.

Pavarotti was famed for helping to popularise opera, particularly through his signature tune, Nessun Dorma, which became associated with the 1990 World Cup.

His performances with Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras at this time - in the Three Tenors concerts - were seen around the world.

Pavarotti died aged 71 at his home in Modena, northern Italy, having being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2006.

The singer had three adult daughters from his 35-year marriage to first wife Adua Veroni. He married Ms Mantovani, 34 years his junior, in 2003.