I want Macca to take a DNA test and prove to the world Philip is his

The woman at the centre of sensational allegations that she had Paul McCartney's lovechild yesterday broke a 33-year silence to demand that he take a DNA test.

Anita Howarth has always stubbornly refused to say who was the father of her son Philip to try to keep him out of the limelight.

But following renewed speculation about the identity of Philip's father, she spoke out as her son went into hiding.

"I can't bear to think of Phil going through all of this," 50- year-old Anita exclusively told the Sunday Mirror last night. "I really can't.

"Phil and I both think McCartney should take a DNA test now. We want him to do that.

"Phil is training to a be a lighting technician in London, but he's going to have to leave his job now. He couldn't face anyone at work over this. He just couldn't."

McCartney, now officially Sir Paul following his knighthood, has always denied that 33-year-old Philip is his son.

But Anita's family say all the facts prove differently.

Her 73-year-old mother Violet said: "There is not the slightest doubt that Paul McCartney is the father of Philip."

And Anita's brother Ian added: "If McCartney wants to shame his own son by denying he is the father he should take a blood test tomorrow. Then we'll find out what he's made of."

The family says Anita got to know Paul when he and John Lennon used to practise in the basement of her grandmother's house in Liverpool in 1963 as the Beatles' career was just taking off.

The Beatles' manager Brian Epstein originally offered her pounds 2.50 a week as well as expenses to support the child.

Later, Anita, a 17-year-old Littlewoods typist, reluctantly agreed to accept pounds 5,000. As part of the deal she agreed not to talk about who was the child's father.

But the rumours still persisted. Philip was continually taunted that he was McCartney's son as he grew up in Liverpool, although he has always refused to talk publicly about it.

Yesterday, Philip was not at the North London flat he shares with his hairdresser girlfriend Melanie Russell. Friends said the couple had gone into hiding.

Anita's other brother, Cameron Pillans, said: "We never wanted this to come out but McCartney should be well aware that there are legal documents to back this up. Why on earth would Brian Epstein pay Anita off like this if there wasn't more to it?"

And her mother Violet added: "I think it is appalling that McCartney should deny everything now. Why else did his manager give Anita money?"

Ian Pillans clearly remembers how his heroes Lennon and McCartney used to come to his grandmother's house.

"Once John Lennon was playing around with my grandmother's poker and she joked that will be worth something one day," he said.

"Paul was a friend of Anita's. To be honest the family only realised there was something more to it when Anita came back and said she was pregnant.

"She met McCartney in a coffee bar to tell him first. She said he was in a new mohair suit and didn't seem that bothered when she told him. She threw her coffee over him.

"My mother hit the roof when Anita told her she was pregnant and marched her up to McCartney's house

"Paul's dad Jim answered and made them wait at the door while he went in and spoke to his son.

"My mum and Anita can still remember his words as if it was yesterday when he came back. He just said, 'Paul doesn't even know your girl'.

"Then he closed the door on them as they stood their screaming and crying."

Ian added: "Anita was only 17 when she got pregnant and the only lad she had gone with was Paul.

"They hung around together when he and the rest of the Beatles were playing at The Cavern. They had not really taken off then, but they were definitely on the way up."

Once McCartney had turned his back on Anita she never set foot in the Cavern again.

Philip was born in Billings Hospital in Liverpool on February 10, 1964.

Tellingly, the space for the father's name on the certificate is left blank and the second name given for Philip is Paul.

It was one of Anita's mother's friends Bob Houghton who started pushing for some money.

"In the end a deal was reached that Anita got pounds 5,000," said Ian. "In return, she had to sign a deed saying that she would never talk about this again.

"There was nothing in it saying that McCartney was admitting that he was the father."

A few days later, pounds 5,000 was deposited in Anita's Lloyd Bank account in Waterloo, Liverpool.

But she put the money into bad investments which left her with virtually nothing.

Alistair Taylor was the general fixer at Brian Epstein's management company at the time. "There were a lot of paternity claims flying about, but this one was different," he said.

"Brian paid out because it was true, or as far as we knew it was true. Paul knew there was a strong chance the child was his.

"If it had come out it could have been disastrous. The Beatles were marketed as the pure group, the group that mothers would let their teenage daughters go to watch."

Alan Williams, who part- managed the Beatles before Epstein took over, added: "There was no doubt at the time that this child was Paul's. The money was apparently docked from Paul's wages later on."

According to Ian, the family never discussed who was Philip's secret father outside their immediate circle but the rumours persisted.

"The poor lad and his mother were always getting people walking up to them in the street and saying how much he looked like Paul," said Ian. "But she would never discuss it."

Eight years after Philip was born, Anita married hairdresser Chris Howarth. They had two children together and Chris grew so close to Philip that the youngster adopted his surname.

"I think in a way it was an attempt by Philip to distance himself from all the McCartney stuff," added Ian.

Growing up in Liverpool, Philip had McCartney's good looks but had none of his money, sweeping the floor at his mum and stepdad's hairdressing salon to earn what he needed for a new bike and skateboard.

"Phil used to go to the salon every night," said Alan Dawson who was his best friend in the 70s. "He'd sweep up hair, mop the floors, polish the counters and clean the sinks. It seemed a strange thing for Paul McCartney's son to be doing, but he never got anything from him."

Alan said Philip regarded his links with McCartney as a millstone around his neck.

"He never used to brag about who his real dad was but everyone at school knew," said Alan. "He didn't like talking about it and if anyone brought it up, he'd change the subject.

"It was as if he didn't want Paul McCartney to be his dad. Sometimes kids would taunt him and say, 'You're not Paul McCartney's son'. But Phil refused to bother telling them otherwise.

"It took a long time for him to confide in people but once he got to know you he opened up a bit.

"One day I asked him if he really was Paul McCartney's son and he said, 'Yes, my Mum says I am'.

"I asked whether Paul ever got in touch and Phil said, 'No never'. He was quite angry about that, not because his dad was McCartney - he would have been angry if his dad had been a nobody and didn't want to know him.

"I don't suppose he cares now, but when you're 11 or 12 that kind of thing can hurt.

"Phil very rarely spoke about it. If someone brought the subject up the shutters came down. I suppose in that way it is a bit like father like son.

And Paul McCartney was never mentioned in their house - it was sort of taboo and we knew not to talk about it.""

Alan said that Phil used to strum an acoustic guitar at the family's two-bedroom council flat. But there were no Beatles records in the house.

Philip left for London ten years ago, sickened by people in Liverpool continually linking him to McCartney.

At the same time, his mother and her husband became devout Jehovah's Witnesses which made them even more determined to keep their vow of silence until now.

Philip and his girlfriend Melanie have lived together for three years and hope to marry when they can afford it. They are trying to save up enough to put a deposit on a house, although he wants none of McCartney's millions.

Last week Philip refused to discuss the allegations about his famous father, saying: "All the money in the world wouldn't persuade me to talk about it. I have happiness and that is more important than anything."

Back in Liverpool, friend Alan said: "The last time I saw Philip he was looking really well. If Paul McCartney knew his son he'd be proud - he's missed out on a lot.

"But if Phil saw McCartney walking down the road he probably wouldn't give him the time of day - he wouldn't give him the satisfaction. Phil's a great lad who would make any dad proud. If McCartney doesn't want anything to do with him then that's his loss."

Paul McCartney was too busy to comment last night. Spokesman, Geoff Baker, said the star was working on the launch of his new album next week.

Mr Baker said: "I think Paul would think, why should he take a DNA test? He knows the child is not his."

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