FORMER Scottish football international Frank McAvennie was on his way to a lap dancing club when he was arrested in a £110,000 drugs raid, a court heard yesterday.

When police swooped on a Peugeot car in Newcastle city centre they found him and a friend, Michael Edward, counting money.

Mr McAvennie later told police he was counting out the money to pay for lap dancing girls.

The former Celtic and West Ham star made the claim after his arrest on March 23. Mr McAvennie was found to have £30 worth of cocaine hidden in a cigarette box.

He did not say which lap dancing club he was going to, and said the money was a gift from his parents because his only income was £50 unemployment benefit a week.

In an earlier hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, the jury heard the 40-year-old former star told police that he took cocaine when he drank, but said he did not have a drugs problem.

Mr McAvennie was arrested with his friend, Mr Edward, and Arthur Burke, 40, when police seized 5,000 Ecstasy tablets and five kilos of amphetamine paste from a suspect at Glasgow's Queen Street station.

Mr McAvennie, of Station Road, Low Fell, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, and Mr Burke, of Lisks Walk, West Denton, Newcastle, deny conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs.

The trial continues.