Elton's lover hits back at rumours

Sir Elton John's partner David Furnish today took the extraordinary step of writing to a controversial website to deny their relationship is on the rocks.

Mr Furnish, 41, issued the statement after popbitch.com, a popular source of showbusiness gossip, told of a rift between the two of them in its weekly email circulated around the world. He said the couple were happier than ever and have just spent 10 weeks of "bliss" together.

The website had said last week that their 11-year relationship seemed to be "going somewhat awry", suggesting that Mr Furnish had been seeing other men in a Knightsbridge flat bought for him by Sir Elton.