The family of Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood are worried the star may have begun drinking again just weeks after leaving a rehab clinic, it's claimed.

Wood entered rehab in July seeking help with alcohol addiction amid reports that he had begun a relationship with a 20-year-old Russian waitress.

He was released last month in order to continue treatment as an out-patient.

But members of his family, including his wife, Jo, are said to be concerned after he was pictured out at the Claridges Restaurant in London.

“To say she has her suspicions about his drinking would be an understatement. Nothing surprises her with Ron any more,” a friend of Wood's wife told the Sun newspaper.

“He’s moved back from rehab and his family are sure he is back on the vodka. They know him better than anyone else.

“One of his sons was told Ron had been spotted drinking neat vodka again. Jo knows better than anyone that he is an expert at keeping his drinking under the radar.”

But friends of Wood have denied that he has been drinking again, insisting that he drank coffee on his visit to the hotel.

Earlier this month, unconfirmed reports suggested Wood was preparing to move in with Ekaterina Ivanova, who claims to be seeing the star.

(by Jason Gregory)