Former England soccer star Alan Shearer has taken High Court action after claiming that he was given "negligent" financial advice.

A judge was told on Wednesday that the 46-year-old former Southampton, Blackburn and Newcastle striker had sued a number of now-defunct financial advice businesses.

Shearer, a Match Of The Day pundit, was at the start of a High Court hearing in London to hear a lawyer who heads his legal team outline claims.

Barrister Gerard McMeel told Mr Justice Leggatt that Shearer's claims related to pension investments.

Mr McMeel said Shearer claimed that he had been given "negligent financial advice".

He indicated that Shearer's claims were being contested.

One business Shearer is suing was named on court lists as Kevin Neal Associates - a company now in liquidation.

Lawyers said the trial would run into next week.

They say Shearer is due to give evidence on Thursday.