The son of legendary comedian Spike Milligan claims a family feud forced him to disown his dad - just days before his death last year (02).

JAMES MAUGHAN-MILLIGAN - born after an illicit liaison between Spike and artist MARGARET MAUGHAN - wrote a letter saying he never wished to see Spike or his family again after a long-running battle with his father's new wife.

The 27-year-old insists he was left with no choice other than to ex-communicate himself after repeated attempts to visit his father were refused by the comedian's third spouse, SHELAGH.

James says, "The year before he died, I was phoning up all the time but I wasn't allowed to see him.

"They wouldn't even say whether he was on his deathbed. I was at the end of my tether.

"A week and a half before he died, I wrote a letter telling Shelagh I didn't want anything to do with Spike or his family again because it had caused me so much hurt and pain. I regret it now, of course.

"Spike died in February (02) but I finally got to see him, for the last time, the previous October (01)."

But James says he had a great relationship with the LIFE OF BRIAN star, who was 83 when he died from liver disease.

He adds, "When I was with Spike it was brilliant. We were on the same wavelength. I never told him about the problems I'd had trying to see him."

01/09/2003 13:32