THE BITTER legal dispute between Bob Geldof and his former wife Paula Yates over settlement ended the bizarre announcement she is to move back into their home in Chelsea, while he over a house nearby owned her lover, Australian rock musician Michael Hutchence.
In a joint statement, the pair said: "After three days of complete bloody nightmare in the High Court of Justice, Bob Paula have with collective - of relief arrived amicably at a half decent solution to their housing arrangements.
"Paula and the kids will move into the house in Chelsea. Bob will move into Michael's house: down the road. Thanks very much."
The statement was signed "Bob" and "Paula" and carried a PS: "Neither of us will talk about this any further so please don't doorstep us. Thanks."
But later it emerged the deal only an emergency measure to give heavily pregnant Yates and her three daughters somewhere to live for the summer. The question of finances apart from accommodation was not settled.
After the sudden end of the hearing Miss Yates (36) had chatted amicably with her ex husband in the court corridor. But as the conversation continued, voices were raised and Paula was heard to say: "Nineteen years and you just wanted to see me out on the street."
The matrimonial home which Geldof (41) has agreed to vacate is in Redburn Street, Chelsea.
Geldof perched on a table as his former wife engaged in ante natal pregnancy squats at his feet to relieve her aching back.
Asked about the settlement, Ms Yates said she was "jolly happy". Since the breakup, she has struggled publicly with debt despite the wealth of boyfriend Hutchence. A quickie autobiography and a £100,000 a year national newspaper column have failed to avert her money worries, which started when she lost her presenter's job on Channel 4's The Big Breakfast - run by Geldof's company.
. Supermodel Cindy Crawford was kidnapped by a gang who snatched her as she left a flight on Concorde two months ago, it was disclosed last night. She was lured into a limo and whisked away from Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, the Sign newspaper reported. She only broke free when the car ran into traffic and she jumped out, crossing seven lanes of traffic as she fled.