Police were called to a four-star hotel in Knightsbridge, west London, at around 3.15pm on Sunday.

Former Newcastle United defender John Anderson, who played alongside Gascoigne at St James' Park, sent his sympathy to the ex-England star, saying: "He's the type of lad who would do anything for you. He hasn't got a bad bone in his body. Of course you wish him all the best."

The football legend has struggled for some time with alcoholism and depression, and was detained under the Mental Health Act in February after police were called to a Newcastle hotel following reports he was acting erratically. Gascoigne, 40, was released after two weeks of treatment.

Anderson said Gascoigne had gone astray when he did not have his sport to occupy him.

"I remember him as a boy coming through the ranks here at Newcastle, and he was just a smashing lad. All he ever wanted to do was play football and he was at his happiest when he was on a football pitch.

"Once he got out of the environment of the football club, that's when all his problems started."

He added: "We all know he has got problems and we wish him all the best because he was a great, great player, a great lad, and you do hope he comes through it. It's not going to be easy for him, but you wish him the best and our prayers are with him."

Earlier, the Daily Mail reported that he had been behaving in a drunk and unpredictable manner on Sunday. The newspaper quoted an unnamed hotel source as saying eight policemen were called to the incident.

A spokeswoman for Scotland Yard confirmed officers were called to a hotel in the SW1 area of London on Sunday afternoon, and that a man had gone to hospital voluntarily. No crime was alleged, she added, so the matter was no longer one for the police.