Former footballer turned actor Vinnie Jones has revealed he is being treated for malignant melanoma skin cancer.

The 48-year-old said he learned he had the disease last February when he visited a doctor after discovering a small lump under his right eye.

Doctors who removed the lump discovered it was a malignant melanoma. He said he has had two further operations to remove lumps from his eye and the back of his head.

"Cancer is a horrible word to hear. It frightens the life out of you," he told The Sun. "I've faced the biggest and ugliest lads on the football field and been in some nasty bar brawls. But this is my toughest and scariest opponent yet."

Jones revealed the news has made him reassess his "life and goals".

"It's weighing very heavily on me all the time. It's really knocked me for six. One minute you're up but then you come crashing down. You're paranoid about it the whole time," he said.

The Wimbledon ex-midfielder, who now lives in Los Angeles, revealed his 47-year-old wife Tanya has battled the disease too and has had a number of tumours removed from her skin.

He said: "When it comes to things like this, women are stronger. Suddenly I've gone from the one helping her to the one that needs support.

"I'm trying to take the world in a bit more and appreciate my family and friends".

He said the disease may have something to do with the outdoor life he has led, including working on building sites and playing football, and that the condition could have been made worse by moving to sun-soaked LA.

Jones, who debuted as an actor in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, became well known for his Crazy Gang antics at Wimbledon in the 90s. He also recently fronted an ad campaign explaining how to save the life of someone having a heart attack.