Beckham slams affair rumours

England and Real Madrid football ace David Beckham has denied talk that he had an affair with his personal assistant last year.

Reacting to a six-page report the News of the World, that he had an affair with 26-year-old Rebecca Loos, he slammed the allegations as "ludicrous".

"The simple truth is that I am very happily married, have a wonderful wife and two very special kids. There is nothing that any third party can do to change these facts," the 28-year old Beckham said.

Loos, a privately educated daughter of a Dutch diplomat, had helped Beckham cope with the language barrier when he moved from Manchester United to Real Madrid last year. She used to work for the SFX sports management agency, which represented Beckham then.

According to the Daily Telegraph, London, Beckham's wife, Victoria, offered no comment as she left Heathrow on Sunday for an Easter holiday in Switzerland with her parents, brother and two sons. David is expected to join the family later this week.

"During the past few months I have become accustomed to reading more and more ludicrous stories about my private life.

"What appeared this morning is just one further example," Beckham said.

Loos's brother, John, speaking from his parents' home in Madrid, said: "The first I knew something was up was when Rebecca phoned home early this morning to warn me journalists might come knocking at my door. I asked her why, but she wouldn't tell me."

When approached by the News of the World, Loos is reported to have said: "I am afraid I have no comment for you. Please leave me alone."

Loos lost her job as Beckham's personal assistant when he left the SFX agency at the end of last year.

The News of the World said: "We fully appreciate the significance of the report and stand by our story 100 per cent."

It also printed explicit phone text messages, which it claimed were sent between Beckham and Loos.