London, April 12 : New York City public officials have backed Sir Paul McCartney''s girlfriend Nancy Shevell after she was accused of failing her responsibilities as a transport board member due to her alleged celebrity relationship.

Shevell, who works as unpaid member for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), was said to have evoked frowns from city leaders, who claimed she was concentrating more on her personal life than her job.

According to MTA meeting minutes, the 47-year-old had hopped four board meetings, which was more than any other voting member, since January last year, reports the Daily Express.

The American heiress, who is also the vice president of her family-owned transportation conglomerate, also missed another high-level meeting on the same day she was photographed with the ex-Beatle in London.

However, MTA officials defended Shevell, insisting she had been up to her job.

An MTA spokesperson says, "MTA board members are volunteers who serve without compensation and spend countless hours each month attending meetings and analysing background materials. Nancy Shevell has been an active board member since her appointment in 2001." (ANI)