Ricky Hatton checks into rehab

Ricky Hatton has checked into rehab following reports that he had taken cocaine.

Hatton's spokesman Max Clifford confirmed that the former world boxing champion had entered a facility and has been suffering from severe depression for "several weeks", according to PA.

Clifford said: "[Hatton] met with the specialist today for four, five, six hours and he was told that his depression is severe depression and that he has a drink problem. The drugs are quite recent and not actually the problem when we're talking about degrees.

"The problem is depression and the drink has been a problem for some time. From everything they've said, the drugs are a far more recent thing and very much superficial alongside the drink and depression."

Although he did not confirm how long Hatton would spend in treatment, Clifford said: "They are very confident if he does what they tell him with the treatment, therapy and advice, he can sort himself out. And he will do what they tell him."

He added: "They've said, 'This is your problem, this is what's wrong, and we can sort it out. You should have come to us a long time ago'. It's been a shaft of sunshine coming through. He's faced up to it now even though he hasn't for some time and it's been there for some time."