Keith Richards has given up alcohol.

The Rolling Stones guitarist - who is known for his hellraising lifestyle - hasn't downed a drink in four months, despite previously claiming he would never become teetotal.

A source close to the 66-year-old musician said: "There's no guarantees that he'll stay off it - but he's doing really well so far.

"He has always quite enjoyed the fact that he seemed to be able to carry on drinking as much as he liked with no real negative impact on his health."

It is believed Keith decided to quit booze after seeing his bandmate Ronnie Wood start drinking heavily again and eventually split from his wife of 23 years Jo to run off with 21-year-old cocktail waitress Katia Ivanova, who Ronnie is also now separated from.

The source added to The Sun newspaper: "He has watched Ronnie fall well and truly off the wagon last year and he doesn't like what he sees.

"Plus he has started to feel for the first time like it might do him some good to give up the booze for a while."

Four years ago Keith suffered a brain haemorrhage after he fell out of a tree while partying on the Pacific island of Fiji, but made a full recovery.