BEN AFFLECK - AFFLECK LOVES BRITAIN - BUT NOT THE COLD

BEN AFFLECK loved visiting Britain to promote his new film PAYCHECK - even though the weather was too cold for his liking.

The American movie star popped over the Atlantic yesterday (12JAN04) to talk about his new project - but found the chilly British winter was an unwelcome contrast to his recent visits to sun-drenched Nevada.

He says, "I really enjoyed going to visit Scotland, I think my family have some kind of castle up there.

"It's a shame about the weather though - Vegas is much warmer!"

However, Affleck admitted his liking for Britain pales in comparison to his OSCAR-winning ex-girlfriend GWYNETH PALTROW, who is now permanently based in London following her marriage to English rocker CHRIS MARTIN.

He laughs, "I love England but Gwyneth is the Anglophile queen."