Gazza 'hallucinates' after booze binges

Paul Gascoigne has sparked fresh concerns over his health after he appeared to hallucinate following a five-day booze binge.

The football legend, currently on holiday in the Algarve, apparently shocked fellow guests by "babbling incoherently" into a mobile phone at 6.30am in his hotel lobby yesterday. Police were called by concerned onlookers when they realised Gazza believed he was speaking to Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair's former political associate.

"It was tragic," one guest told The Sun, adding: "He didn't know what he was saying and wasn't making sense."

Another source added: "He has ripped himself to shreds, psychologically. It was the most distressing thing I have ever seen."

Gazza, who was advised to sleep off his condition by police, has refused to return home to the UK after rowing with his partner Sheryl. He was discharged from rehab after receiving treatment for alcoholism at the end of July, but he started drinking again just days later.

Doctor Carol Cooper said: "Hallucinating is a symptom of acute alcohol intoxication and liver failure. I'd suspect he is on the edge of a pretty serious liver disease."