A BUSINESSMAN has mounted a legal challenge after a High Court judge ordered him to pay his estranged Real Housewives of Cheshire wife a £3 million lump sum.

Paul Simon, 50, claims Mrs Justice Parker wrongly assessed the amount of money he and Lauren Simon, 47, who starred in eight series of reality TV show The Real Housewives of Cheshire, which is largely filmed in the Wilmslow area, had available to share.

Lawyers representing the pair, who married in 2003 and separated in 2016, began outlining arguments to Court of Appeal judges in London on Wednesday.

The hearing has adjourned and is due to resume in the near future.

Mrs Justice Parker had analysed the case at a family court hearing in Manchester.

Mr Simon, who runs a property business, made a series of complaints about her ruling and felt he did not get a fair hearing.

Mrs Simon is fighting his challenge.

Barrister Richard Todd QC, who leads Mr Simon's legal team, outlined his complaints in a written statement given to appeal judges.

He said Mrs Justice Parker had made "arithmetical-type" errors and said she had taken an "indulgent approach" to Mrs Simon's evidence.

Mr Todd said Mrs Simon had "successfully persuaded" Mrs Justice Parker she should have a home with a bedroom for her housekeeper.

He suggested that was "unnecessary".

Mr Todd said Mrs Simon, who had launched a perfume business, "accepted" she was a "TV personality" and a "household name - certainly in the north of England".

"She has starred in eight series of the 'Cheshire Housewives' television series," Mr Todd said.

"She has commanded £40,000 per annum plus various benefits - such as free clothes, free plastic surgery, free make-up and an occasional opportunity to 'plug' her brand of perfume."