Paul Gascoigne 'drank booze until he passed out'

A friend of England legend Paul Gascoigne has revealed that the ex-Tottenham Hotspur star's alcohol abuse "spiralled out of control".

The 45-year-old is currently seeking treatment at a rehab facility in the US, but Shane Abbott has revealed that his drinking woes returned last summer.

"His drinking spiralled out of control," Abbott told the Daily Star. "He was on two litres of gin every day, if not more. His fridge was packed full of bottles.

"He would mix it with his Stella. If he couldn't get served in pubs or the off licence, he would get his friends to buy it for him.

"He would get through more than 10 cans every day easily, sometimes 15. But it was never enough. He would only stop when he passed out cold on the floor."

The Football Association are thought to have donated £40,000 to help cover the cost of treatment for the struggling ex-professional.