Airport security check Heather Mills' artificial leg for explosives

New York, March 16 : Heather Mills' false leg was checked for explosives at London's Heathrow airport after she set off the security alarm.

The 42-year-old ex-wife of Paul McCartney was at Heathrow to fly to the US.

After the alarm went off Mills was asked to roll up her trouser leg and her prosthetic leg was swabbed in public.

But Mills is reported to have taken the incident quite lightly.

"Heather complied with security''s requirements with good grace," the New York Post quoted Mills' rep, as telling Sky News.

He added: "Heather wasn''t furious at all, she completely understands what has to be done for 21st century travel."

"She was swabbed because something set off the alarm in the metal detector archway," a spokeswoman for airport owner BAA said.

She added: "Staff could not see inside the leg so it was swabbed instead. This would be the same protocol if a passenger had a cast on a broken arm or leg."