Bing to fund Stones show in protest over global warming

The Californian film producer Steve Bing, better known as the father of Liz Hurley's baby, is to bankroll a Rolling Stones benefit concert on behalf of an American environmental action group.

Bing, 36, who disputed he was the father of Hurley's son until DNA tests proved conclusive, is picking up the tab for a free concert in Los Angeles to raise awareness of global warming.

John Coifman, a spokesman for the National Resources Defence Council (NRDC), which has helped to organise the concert on 6 February, said: "Steve has had quite a long relationship with the NRDC. This is the first time in many years that the Stones have played a benefit concert."

The NRDC is offering 12,000 free tickets to music fans who visit its website at www.nrdc.org, hoping that the concert will publicise the issue of global warming among people not normally involved in environmental issues.

Last month Bing offered to set up a £100,000-a-year trust fund to help bring up the boy, Damian. Hurley, a model and actress, has said she will not accept money from Bing.

How much Bing must pay to put on the show, or whether the band has waived its fee, is not known. Sources said the deal was a private arrangement between Bing and the Rolling Stones.

A spokesman for the band declined to comment on the arrangement. He said the members were taking a holiday halfway through what is said to be the band's final world tour.

Last week the Rolling Stones agreed to allow the car maker Ford to use their song "Start Me Up" as the theme for a series of advertisements for its latest range of fuel-guzzling 4x4 vehicles, the sort of cars blamed by the NRDC for contributing to global warming.