British tabloid The People, which usually focuses on scandals involving soap stars, footballers, pop stars, and the clergy - sometimes all at the same time - reports that Sir Frank Williams has offered BAR "more than £3m" ($5.4m) if it will release Jenson Button for 2005.

Last week the same paper 'revealed' that if the Contract Recognition Board (CRB) found in favour of BAR - which it did - the Englishman would 'sit out' the 2005 season.

According to The People, Williams has put the offer to BAR boss David Richards, and hopes for a positive response, especially in light of the fact that Button wants to drive for the Grove outfit. However, we would have thought that if BAR and Honda were interested, they'd be looking for a bit more than £3m.

"Williams always said we would not start fighting for Button in the courts," said the paper's source, "but we are willing to pay money for him to drive for us next year.

"But Frank is not stupid," the source continued, "and won't be forced to start paying over the odds. So the offer is a take-it-or-leave-it deal because Frank put aside a little pot of money in case we lost the CRB hearing, but no more will be added to that."

Meanwhile in other news, a soap star, a member of the clergy and an orang-utan, were found in compromising circumstances…