LONDON (AFP) - Former footballer-turned-film star Vinnie Jones has revealed that he has been diagnosed with skin cancer.

The 48-year-old, who made his name in Britain as a tough-tackling midfielder for Wimbledon, told British tabloid the Sun on Sunday he had been alerted to the illness by the discovery of a lump beneath his eye.

"Cancer is a horrible word to hear. It frightens the life out of you," said Jones, who represented Wales at international level.

"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, whose acting career began when he appeared in the British gangster film Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels in 1998, said that he has had three operations to remove cancerous patches on his head.

"It's weighing very heavily on me all the time. It has really knocked me for six and made me reassess my life and goals," he said.

"If you spot something on your skin that doesn't feel right, like a little spot or tick, then get it checked out immediately."