AN ex-wife today lost her court battle for a bigger slice of her husband's wealth after he sold their Hampshire mansion for twice what she originally thought it was worth.

The Court of Appeal ruled this morning that Christine Burns had left it too long to claim a bigger share of her husband's wealth.

Mrs Burns was originally paid £1.27m in a clean break divorce settlement five years ago.

But she launched a court battle claiming her share of the "windfall" profit made by her former husband John when he sold their matrimonial home for £1.7m five years ago.

The row centres on the impressive mansion Awbridge Danes in Awbridge, near Romsey.

After the case, Mrs Burns, who now runs a bed and breakfast establishment in Winchester, said: "I am disappointed".

The 53-year-old, who has two daughters aged 26 and 23 with her ex-husband, added: "When I first knew about the true figure for the house sale I had severe problems when a close member of the family died, leaving two children aged 13 and 15 to be cared for."

"My own father was also dying of cancer at the time. How can the courts expect a person to act quickly?"

Property developer Mr Burns, 55, who lives outside Bramshaw in the New Forest, said: "I am glad this is all over. What has not been said in court is that this has gone on for very many years. The pressure has never stopped."

Built in the 18th century and rebuilt in 1825, Awbridge Dane is set in 96 acres of Hampshire countryside.

Giving the court's ruling today, Lord Justice Thorpe said he had come to the "strong preliminary conclusion" that the husband had breached his duty to be candid to the court about his assets. But Mrs Burns and her advisers knew by the end of 1999 that he had made a great deal more on the sale than the value told to the court.

He said Mrs Burns was the victim of an injustice. But due to the delay in bringing the action, permission to appeal had to be refused, he said.