Sir Elton John will keep paying his mother's bills despite their ongoing feud.

A friend explained to the Sunday Mirror newspaper: "He is upset and cross, but people should remember that Elton pays all of her bills and that won't stop.

"Despite everything, Sheila is his mother and he couldn't see her struggle financially, or go without medical care she needs as a 90-year-old woman.

"But he feels extremely sad that it has come to this - it is without a doubt the worst things have been in the seven years since they fell out."

Sheila has blamed Sir Elton's husband David Furnish for the falling out, while also being angered at being told to cut contact with their old friends Bob Halley and John Reid, who she thinks helped her son's career.

In an interview, she said: "I told him I'm not about to do that and drop them. Bob is like a son to me, he always has been marvellous to me and lives nearby and keeps an eye on me.

"Then to my utter amazement, he told me he hated me. And he then banged the phone down. Imagine. To me, his mother.

"He told me I thought more of Bob Halley than of my own son.

"And to that I said to him, 'And you think more of that f***ing thing you married than your own mother'."