AceShowbiz - Take That star Howard Donald has been waging a secret court battle to prevent publication of details of his romance with an ex-girlfriend. Donald, who is currently preparing for the British boyband's hotly-anticipated reunion tour with Robbie Williams in 2011, called in his legal team earlier this year after he discovered Adakini Ntuli was preparing to sell her story.

The singer was granted a so-called "super-injunction" by a London court in April, banning publication of any details of the legal fight, including the names of Donald and Ntuli. But after Ntuli appealed against the decision, part of the legal ruling was lifted at London's High Court on Tuesday, November 16 - and details of the case can now be revealed.

Ntuli reportedly began dating Donald in 2000, but in March this year he allegedly received a cell phone text message from her reading: "Why should I continue to suffer financially for the sake of loyalty when selling my story will sort my life out?" Ntuli is said to be using the services of British publicist Max Clifford and is in talks with the News of the World newspaper, although the injunction banning her from selling her story is still in place.