Sir Paul McCartney and new love Nancy Shevell have embarked on a secret car journey across the States.

The pair, who have been linked since November last year, are driving a 1989 Ford Bronco along America's legendary Route 66 in a bid to escape the limelight.

‘The road trip was Nancy’s idea as a way of them getting to bond and spending time together – just the 2 of them,’ says a source. ‘They’ve just been talking about the holiday non-stop and were so excited.

‘It’s the perfect way for them to both get away from it all and really get to know each other. Paul even packed his guitar.’

Sir Paul, 66, and Nancy, 47, are already said to have covered almost 1,000 miles since they set off from New York last week.

They even posed for snaps with locals when they took a pit stop in Springfield, Illinois.

‘They looked totally in love,’ an onlooker tells the Daily Mirror. ‘Nancy jumped at the chance to take the picture of Paul with us. They told us they were on a trip and going to St Louis before heading west.

‘No one could believe that it was really him – he was laid back and ordinary. They seemed a great couple.’