George Best is back on the drink, says his agent

George Best is back on the booze despite warnings that it could kill him.

His agent Phil Hughes says he is "worried sick" about the ailing 54-year-old star.

He says Best has been unmistakably drunk during phone conversations in recent days.

The former Manchester United star has pulled out of two public appearances in the past 10 days.

London-based Mr Hughes plans to fly over to Northern Ireland to visit Best in the fishing village of Portavogie, Co Down, where he moved last year to escape the pressures of London life.

Best, whose glittering career was cut short by heavy drinking, retreated from the capital after treatment for a serious liver complaint and a warning to stay off alcohol for good.

He fell off the wagon once - prompting his consultant Professor Roger Williams to publicly criticise those who continued giving him drink - but had stayed dry after returning to his native Northern Ireland.

However, he hit the bottle again last week after ill-health forced him to withdraw from a charity dinner in his honour at Old Trafford, according to his agent.

Mr Hughes said: "I find it very disturbing that people are serving him drink over there.

"If they feel that they're able to add to George's problems by serving him alcohol, it's something that may be on their conscience."

Best was to have provided commentary for the BBC at tonight's Northern Ireland World Cup qualifying fixture against the Czech Republic in Belfast but pulled out, citing continuing ill-health.