It could be a case for superspy James Bond.

Monty Norman, the man credited with writing the James Bond theme tune, yesterday began a high court libel case against a newspaper for repeating claims that he was not the author of one of the best known pieces of film music.

Oscar-winning composer John Barry claims he wrote the theme to the first Bond movie, Dr No, and not Norman.

Yesterday Mr Justice Eady and a jury heard the twangy guitar score ringing out across the usually staid court number 13 at the high court in London.

Opening the case for Norman, 72, James Price QC told the jury that the claim against the Sunday Times turned on whether the tune for the 1962 movie was written by Norman or, as the newspaper claims, by Barry.

Mr Price said that the article damaged Norman's reputation not just by saying that he did not write the Bond theme but by suggesting that for 35 years he had been dishonestly taking the credit and the royalties for a piece he did not compose.

Mr Price added that the article hurtfully suggested Norman was a "nonentity" and said he started his career as "the singing barber of Hackney".

Apart from Dr No, Norman had written music for stage and film musicals, including Expresso Bongo, and had won Ivor Novello, Evening Standard and Laurence Olivier awards.

The newspaper, said Mr Price, claimed that the famous Bond tune owed nothing to Mr Norman except for a snatch of a much-altered melody line. Barry, whose film scores include Born Free, Zulu and Midnight Cowboy, was in court.

Opening the defence, Mark Warby, for Times Newspapers, said that the article was a classic example of a report and comment piece on a live dispute and was neutral and sensibly balanced, with the reader reaching no other conclusion than that Barry was claiming to have written the theme.

Mr Warby said: "The truth can hurt and Mr Norman has tried to falsify history to justify the claims he has made for recognition as composer of the theme."

Mr Warby said that Barry was brought in to write the theme six months into the project because Norman had run out of inspiration.

Barry was called in and offered £250 to sort out the problem. A deal was struck whereby Barry would write the theme for a flat fee and no royalties and Norman was to get the credit and the royalties.

The hearing continues.