FOOTBALLING legend George Best has taken refuge in Liphook this week at the Champneys Forest Mere health spa.

The troubled former footballer arrived at Forest Mere on Friday accompanied by his agent Philip Hughes and checked into the £200-a-night retreat after returning from his much-publicised holiday in Malta.

Mr Hughes told The Herald: "I took George to Forest Mere myself; he is staying for some privacy, rest, and to recuperate. He will be there as long as he wants, it's really up to George."

A spokesman for Forest Mere added: "George is having treatment and working out and trying to get his head together."

He had gone on holiday to Malta with his 31-year-old wife Alex, but she left the hotel following reports at the weekend that he was having an affair. He was pictured drinking wine alone at the hotel, sparking renewed fears that he may have damaged his new liver, less than a year after his transplant.

He is hoping to escape the glare of publicity by taking refuge at the exclusive Liphook health spa.

Mr Hughes said he needed privacy: "That's why he has gone to the health spa and not home" to Lower Kingswood in Surrey. 35 miles up the road from Liphook.