PAUL GASCOIGNE was released on bail yesterday after being questioned about an alleged attack on a photographer.

The former England, Newcastle, Rangers, Lazio and Spurs footballer was arrested on Monday night on suspicion of assault and interviewed by detectives after an incident outside a hotel in Liverpool.

Gascoigne, 38, was attending a charity fundraiser in the hotel on the day he was sacked as manager of non-league side Kettering Town, after only 39 days in charge.

A spokeswoman from Merseyside Police said: "The 38-year-old man from Gateshead, who was arrested last night on suspicion of a Section 47 assault on Hope Street in Liverpool city centre, has been released on police bail pending further inquiries."

Gascoigne was in Liverpool to help raise funds for alcohol and drugs rehabilitation charity Sharp.

He was approached by photographers outside the hotel and allegedly hit one of them - Steve Farrell - in the face. He was arrested at 11.30pm and kept overnight before being questioned for between three and four hours, police said.

Gascoigne was bailed to return to a Liverpool police station in February.

Fellow guest Chris Difford, former guitarist with the band Squeeze, said Gascoigne was arrested after photographers scrambled to take his picture.

He said: "It just looked like firework night. There were so many cameras going off. It seemed more aggressive than usual."

Gascoigne released a statement on his website last night, accepting that his time as manager of Kettering Town was over.

He did not make any reference to his arrest or questioning by police, but denied he had ever been drunk at work.

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