Beckham's on the bawl

His wife has allegedly branded him a 'vain, arrogant Essex yob'.

But David Beckham showed his sensitive side yesterday when he broke down in tears after dropping off his son for his first day at school.

The England captain, 29, held it together as he hugged five-year-old Brooklyn goodbye at the gates.

But when he turned and walked away it all proved too much - and the tears began to flow.

As he made his way back to his car, he held his hand to his mouth as he fought to control his emotions.

An onlooker said: 'It was all too much for Brooklyn and he burst into tears. David carried him in his arms through the gates but the emotion of it all must have got to him, too.'

The Beckhams are terrified of Brooklyn being kidnapped and his first day at Madrid's exclusive Runnymede College sparked a major security operation.

The family hired bodyguards to patrol the school premises all day. One burly minder arrived at 6am, three hours before roll call, to monitor arrivals.

Runnymede is Spain's most expensive English school at £1,300 a term and most pupils are the children of diplomats or business executives.

The Beckhams' marriage is said to be on the rocks, with David on the verge of breakdown. The pair are heading for separation, it is claimed.

But his wife, 30, will be cheered to learn Runnymede has a famous former pupil - her husband's alleged ex-lover Rebecca Loos.