GIN & CHRONIC; Boozed up Best pours out his troubles to ex-wife Alex.

Byline: By PETE SAMSON and ALEXANDRA WILLIAMS

ALCOHOLIC George Best downs a gin and tonic yesterday hours before being arrested for assault.

His face puffed and swollen, and with two black eyes, Best poured out his troubles to former wife Alex who has vowed to take care of him.

He then voluntarily surrendered to police who interviewed him for more than four hours over claims he beat up mother of three Vicky Pope, 34, before being bailed.

Alex, 32, has taken pity on the fallen soccer legend as he plumbs new depths, one of her friends disclosed yesterday.

The source said: "George is in bad shape - he's very rough and down. Despite everything, Alex still feels for him and will look after him.

"Nobody else seems to want to save George from himself. He's unloaded all his problems on her. She's given him a strong shoulder to cry on and somewhere to stay.

"George is as good as gold with Alex. They get on now ina way they didn't before. He often pops round. But there's nothing sexual in their relationship. " "

Best, 59 - beaten at the weekend by lover Ros Hollidge - had spent Wednesday evening enjoying a barbecue with Alex at their former marital home near Reigate, Surrey.

At 10.30am yesterday he wandered round the garden in a dressing gown before taking his red setters Red and Rua for a walk.

At 11.30am he opened the first of several cans of gin and tonic which he drank as he chatted to Alex.

The couple hugged and kissed before Best was taken by taxi to Staines police station at 12.30pm.

He arrived at 1.15pm but had to wait five hours before being questioned as police wanted him to be examined by a doctor.

His manager Phil Hughes said: "We got a message last night to come to the station some time today. They wanted a doctor to check he was fit to be interviewed. It was important considering he'd been in a fight and because of his medical history."

Best left the police station at 10.25pm. He was picked up by a taxi which drove into a secure back compound. He was then whisked through metal security gates with a police escort.

Police said: "A man of 59 was arrested following an alleged assault. He was freed on bail pending inquiries and is due to return on July 6."

Best went on all-day benders after a weekend bust-up with lover Ros Hollidge, 37, left him with face cuts and bruises and her with a broken collar bone.

Mum Vicky claims she was attacked by drunken Best on Tuesday as she tried to stop him harassing his ex-lover Gina Devivo, 35, at Gina's home in Ewell, Surrey.

She said: "He clenched his fist and just came for me. It was absolutely terrifying. He's a lunatic.

"He was so drunk he was unsteady on his feet and only got me in the neck. He then came back for more." Mr Hughes said the claims were "categorically" denied. As Best continued to be interviewed, his ailing father Dicky, 86, also pledged to stand by him.

Recovering from a heart operation, he said at his home in Belfast: "I'll always be here for George.

"Everybody is quick to throw stones at him but they don't know the facts. People love him. He'll be remembered as the world's greatest footballer long after Beckham and co are finished."

Voice of the Mirror: Page 6

CAPTION(S):

10.30am; Black-eyed Best relaxes in garden with his red setter; 11.30am; He downs gin and tonic after getting police call; 1.15pm; Shamed Best arrives at police station for questioning about alleged assault; EX: Alex yesterday