Jimmy Choo founder to sue mother

Stiletto queen Tamara Mellon, founder of the Jimmy Choo label, has filed a lawsuit against her mother for £5m. The action stems from the sale of the successful shoe empire in 2004, which she launched with designer Choo in 1996.

Mellon's civil complaint against her mother Ann Yeardye, a former Chanel model, claims she is holding on to half of the company's stock,which should have been returned to Mellon when the business was sold.

In an attempt to break the deadlock without litigation, Mellon offered to put her mother's shares in a separate trust for her five-year old daughter, Araminta, it was reported.

Tamara Mellon in a statement said: "It is with immense sadness that I take this action, but I see no other way to protect my daughter's interests. I am baffled by my mother's refusal to return assets which rightfull do not belong to her."