London, Nov.15 : Former England football star Paul Gazza' Gascoigne flew back to Britain yesterday and hit a local pub after his lover Sally Mulholland spurned his offer of marriage at her home in Portugal.

But after she refused to marry him the distraught alcoholic packed his bags and flew straight back to Britain, reports The Daily Star.

Gazza, 41, phoned his family close to tears after she told him it was "too soon" for them to tie the knot, having just divorced her Portuguese husband Jose Ramos, 44.

He had appeared to be winning his battle with the bottle since falling for teetotal Sally, 43, but now family and friends fear he could go back to his old boozy ways.

Sally first met Gazza two months ago, when she dashed to his aid after he collapsed during an Algarve booze bender. Last week, the couple had a bust-up after he came home smelling of whisky. He moved out to a hotel, but Sally tracked him down and they made up.

ANI