London, Nov 28 David Beckham has taken to smoking cigars in the garden of his home after picking up the habit at showbusiness parties, it has emerged.

According to reports, Becks turned to his garden for smoking cigars after wife Victoria barred him from lighting up in their LA mansion.

The 35-year-old stunner was forced to ban him because he has acquired a taste for luxury hand-rolled Cubans while in America, reports The Sun.

A family friend said of the England soccer icon: "He loves the taste. I think he likes the image too. Lots of Hollywood stars smoke them."

Earlier this week it emerged that Beckham has suffered from asthma since childhood, after he was photographed using an inhaler ahead of the MLS Cup final.

A chum said: "It's strange to see such an athlete as Becks smoking. But he doesn't have any other vices.

"Of course, he only smokes the best - they're usually fifty-dollar-a-pop Cohibas."

However, the star's spokesman insisted that Becks was not a big fan of cigars, saying it was "not true" to describe him as a smoker.

The aide claimed: "He may have had a puff on a cigar once or twice in the past to make a celebration but that is it." (ANI)