Footballer Paul Gascoigne has a house in Hertfordshire

He has been approached to take up one of two vacant seats on Stanstead Abbotts Parish Council in Hertfordshire's Lee Valley.

The former Tottenham, Newcastle, Everton and Middlesbrough player has lived in the area for years and is seen as ideal candidate.

Although he has yet to put his name forward for the role, parish councillor Raymond Brown said Mr Gascoigne was keen to be involved.

'Up for it'

He said: "I approached him to be a parish councillor and asked if he would help with the young people.

"He said he would be delighted and was really up for it.

"He's been around the parish on and off for about 15 years and he knows it really well and is well respected in the area.

"He has a real affinity with young people which he showed in Newcastle and that's what we want.

"Young people do get into drink and drugs and he has experience with that and kids will take more notice of what he says."

Mr Gascoigne's affinity with young people is just one of his qualities

Only one person has so far put their name forward to join the council which means Mr Gascoigne could be co-opted for the other vacancy.

Mr Brown added: "He knows the area and cycles around it all the time which means he is aware of the different issues we have such as traffic.

"He is an intelligent man and will be a great asset."

Mr Gascoigne told the Evening Standard: "I would consider doing something like that for the youth around the area.

"It would be a pleasure, I've always liked living here."

Gascoigne, 35, battled back from problems with alcoholism at a specialist clinic in Arizona, USA.

He was last signed as a player-coach for a Chinese football club Gansu Tianma.