The Beatles felt ''threatened'' by Yoko Ono, according to Sir Paul McCartney.

The 74-year-old singer songwriter has admitted he shares a ''good'' friendship with the widow of the late band mate John Lennon, although he has revealed he used to feel intimidated by her.

Speaking to Rolling Stone magazine about their friendship, he said: ''It's really good, actually. We were kind of threatened [then]. She was sitting on the amps while we were recording. Most bands couldn't handle that. We handled it, but not amazingly well, because we were so tight. We weren't sexist, but girls didn't come to the studio - they tended to leave us to it. When John got with Yoko, she wasn't in the control room or to the side. It was in the middle of the four of us.''

Although McCartney regularly talks to his 76-year-old bandmate Ringo Starr, the group - which was originally formed of the late George Harrison, Ringo, Lennon and Paul - he claims he is ''done'' singing for the band.

He explained: ''I see Ringo a lot, because he's a lovely boy. We all see each other socially, go to parties. As for meetings, I'm a bit detached from it.

''The way it works now, I listen to all the records. I will be in on the approval process. But most of the work for the Beatles has been done.''