Robbie Buying Windermere Hideaway?

Hearts are all a flutter in the Lake District this week with local papers claiming that popular music star Robbie Williams - he was formerly part of a so-called 'Boy Band', Your Honour - has purchased a discreet country cottage on the shores of Lake Windermere.

Robbie has allegedly splashed out around £2 million for a tiny eight-bedroom mansion called Quarry Garth at Troutbeck Bridge. The house is a former hotel complete with handy four-bedroom lodge house and according to local estate agents:

"Quarry Garth has been sold, but we do not know who to," a spokesman said. "Obviously Robbie's name has not appeared on any of the documents. The house was viewed by a man who put in an offer, but it wasn't Robbie. Contracts were exchanged two weeks ago but the sale is not completed yet."

If it is Robbie, he doubtless be delighted that the name of his new home has been splashed all over the interweb - who, us? - but he can apparently look forward to a warm welcome. This is the Lake District quotes Windermere Town Councillor Jennifer Jewel as saying:

I don't really know that much about him but I'm sure he would be welcome so long as he didn't annoy folk with loud fireworks and loud music."

Meanwhile, an exclusive source has told us that not only is Robbie buying the house, but in a classic bit of downshifting, he is planning to re-open it as a bed and breakfast with Take That themed bedrooms... Yeah, right.

You can read the full curiously unsupported story at www.thisisthelakedistrict.co.uk

It's dead quiet up there tha knows...