The mother of tragic British TV star PAULA YATES has spoken for the first time about her sad relationship with her daughter.

HELENE THORNTON had been estranged from her daughter for five years before the star's tragic death this week (ending 22SEPT00), and the 63-year-old has never even met her granddaughter TIGER LILY.

She says, "The last five years have been really very difficult for me. Do you know what it's like not to see your only daughter for five years?" The pair fell out in 1995 when Paula split from husband BOB GELDOF and started a new life with INXS star MICHAEL HUTCHENCE.

Helene says, "I tried to make contact with Paula, but it was in vain. Her personality changed totally, she became like Hutchence, fanatical and destructive."

(KAB/WNTMI/NFA)

Source: WENN