'Don't serve Best' says doctor

Leaving home in Chelsea: Best says he's "feeling fine"

George Best's doctor has appealed to bar staff around the UK not to serve the football legend alcohol, in a bid to help him beat his addiction.

Professor Roger Williams' call comes as Sunday newspapers reported the former Manchester United and Northern Ireland star had fallen off the wagon after 18 weeks without a drink.

Prof Williams, who treated Best for a serious liver condition earlier this year, confirmed he was due to undergo hospital tests after hitting the bottle last week.

It doesn't help when people serve him when he gets into that state

Professor Roger Williams

Immediately after his last spell in hospital, Best had told his wife Alex, 28, he would never drink again.

But the recovering alcoholic reportedly embarked on a drinking binge on Thursday following a row with his wife, which ended with him being found slumped on a park bench.

'Everybody loves him'

Prof Williams, 54, said: "Everybody knows him, everybody loves him and everybody wants to help him. Serving him drink isn't doing that.

"It doesn't help when people serve him when he gets into that state.

"Staff could do their bit to help the doctors and everyone else."

George and Alex said they wanted to start a family

He said Best was such a well-known figure and his alcohol addiction was so well documented that there was no excuse for bar staff continuing to sell him alcohol.

Best was reported to have had his first alcoholic drink for 18 weeks in a pub near his home in Chelsea, west London, and to have continued drinking in a West End wine bar and then a late-night casino until it closed at 4am.

He was allegedly discovered by a park keeper at 7am, slumped on a bench in Battersea Park.

'Lowest point'

Later on Friday he booked himself into the Forest Mere health farm in Liphook, Hampshire, where staff kept a close eye on him.

In a television interview in April, Best said he had finally faced up to his addiction, describing his hospital treatment as the lowest point of his life.

Best said on TV he had faced his addiction

He and his wife Alex, who has admitted to punching him on numerous occasions, were planning to start a family.

Photographers snapped the couple leaving their home in Chelsea on Sunday.

He told reporters that he was "feeling fine" before the pair jumped into a car which took them to Heathrow Airport.

On Sunday afternoon the Bests flew from Heathrow to France.