Mike Skinner gives up alcohol for a year

The Streets frontman Mike Skinner has given up alcohol for a year after entering the New York marathon.

The rapper has gone teetotal despite being famous for his music containing gritty confessions of a life of drink and drugs on Britain's housing estates.

Skinner, 27, is reportedly jogging 18 miles a day in preparation for the event.

According to The Sun, the chart star, whose tracks have lyrics about crack and ecstasy abuse, admitted: "I suppose if I were addicted to anything it would probably be booze."