David Beckham refused to pay £1 million to blackmailers to stop a leak of his emails, it has been reported.

Hackers believed to be using Russian servers accessed millions of messages and documents from the computer system of Simon Oliveira's agency which runs Mr Beckham's publicity.

The cyber criminals allegedly demanded a sum of one million euros - close to £1 million - not to expose the sensitive emails.

Leaked emails between Mr Beckham and his publicist Mr Oliveira suggested his attempts to use his charity work were part of a campaign for a knighthood.

In one message the 41-year-old former England captain branded the Honours Committee "unappreciative c***s" after missing out on a knighthood in 2013 and dismissed lesser awards, ranting: "Unless it's a knighthood f*** off".