ROBBIE WILLIAMS - ROBBIE'S MUM SHEDS LIGHT ON SON'S ADDICTION

Robbie Williams' mother has spoken of the pain the whole family has felt over the troubled popstar's run-ins with drink and drugs.

Last month, on the same day as his 33rd birthday, Robbie checked himself into the Meadows clinic in Arizona for an addiction to prescription drugs.

The news followed a failed attempt to finally crack the American market, as well as the perceived critical and commercial failure of his latest album Rudebox.

Jan Williams says that in the past her son had flown home to be comforted by her.

"There was one time when he came home in the middle of all his drink and drugs problems - and he lay down on the rug with his head in my lap and I looked down at him and he was sobbing," she said.

Robbie's mum claims that the singer's 12-month world tour is the source of his more recent problems.

She also admits that some parts of dealing with Robbie's addictions have been a "living hell".

"It's very, very hard when your child has problems. Alcohol and drugs don't just affect the person who takes them," Jan Williams said.

Robbie is due to stay in the Meadows clinic for another four weeks.