Football hero George Best has eaten his first normal meal since he underwent life-saving liver transplant surgery exactly a week ago.

The health of the former Manchester United and Northern Ireland star is continuing to improve, say hospital officials.

Best, 56, moved on to a "normal but restricted" diet on Tuesday morning and was said to be more mobile, but very tired.

After spending several days in intensive care, Best was moved to a specialist liver ward last week, following the operation at the private Cromwell Hospital in west London.

A hospital spokesman said on Tuesday that Best was "doing very well".

"He is eating well, but little, and he has gone onto a normal but restricted diet for the first time today," said the spokesman.

Best underwent 10 hours of major surgery and needed 40 pints of blood during the liver transplant operation.

Alcohol battle

He had been waiting about seven to eight months for a suitable liver, after causing irreparable damage to his health from years of heavy drinking.

Since news broke of the operation Best has received many letters of support and thousands of e-mail messages poured into BBC Sport Online.

In December last year Best was admitted to hospital in Limassol, Cyprus, suffering from a fever and a gastrointestinal tract infection.

The star underwent extensive treatment for liver damage at the Cromwell Hospital two years ago.

He was warned then that if he ever drank again it could kill him.

And in February last year Best, who now works as a sports commentator, was treated at Belfast City Hospital for pneumonia.

He has battled with drink all his life and was arrested in 1984 for drink-driving and assaulting a police officer.