A woman who says her estranged husband manipulated his finances to avoid paying her a share of his money has spent more than £1.5 million on a legal battle, a judge was told.

Michelle Young, 49, and Dundee-born businessman Scot Young, 51, have been fighting over money at a trial in the Family Division of the High Court, London.

Mrs Young says Mr Young is worth "a few billion at least" and claims "there was a vast fortune hidden". She says she is a victim of "fraud" because Mr Young has manipulated his affairs so as to do her down - and wants her fair share.

Mr Young disputes Mrs Young's claims. He says he is penniless and bankrupt and has debts that add up to £28m.

Judge Mr Justice Moor has been asked to decide how much Mr Young is worth.

A lawyer representing Mrs Young told the judge she had run up a bill of £1.6 million.

Rex Howling, QC, gave details of legal costs after summarising Ms Young's case. He said: "This is one of those cases ... which is like trying to locate a submarine without sonar," said Mr Howling "(But) we have had periscope sightings during the course of these proceedings."

Mr Young described his estranged wife's claims as "nonsense ... nonsense".

Mr Justice Moor suggested Mrs Young might have looked a gift horse in the mouth when she rejected a £300m settlement offer in 2009.

Mr Young has told the court the offer was not serious and was made after he had been drinking. But Mrs Young says it was serious and she says it indicated her husband was wealthy.

"If it was genuine, why didn't (Mrs Young) accept it?" asked the judge. "Gift horse and mouth come to mind."

The judge is due to deliver a ruling on Friday.