Beckingham Palace under threat

David and Victoria Beckham's £2.5 million Hertfordshire home is under threat.

Plans to build 10,000 homes in the area would require a new road that could go straight through the 24 acres surrounding their sevenbedroom house.

The couple put all domestic problems behind them with a romantic break at the Ritz Hotel in Paris, a belated 31st birthday present from the England captain to his wife.

But the Harlow North scheme, devised after Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott called for thousands of new homes in the M11 corridor, is causing anger among their neighbours.

Furious locals have set up a Stop Harlow North campaign. Nigel Clark, its secretary, said: "The developer has been told if it builds north of Harlow there must be a bypass."

He said the plan could be approved in early 2007, and options for the road's route went very close to, if not straight through, the Beckhams' Sawbridgeworth home.

"The worst case scenario is a compulsory purchase of their garden," he added. The campaign has considered contacting the Beckhams.

"Victoria's family live locally, in Goff 's Oak, so I'd be surprised if they hadn't raised this with her and David," said Mr Clark. "But I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't want to get into local politics."

The Beckhams ' spokesman said the plan may not have "come across their radar" in Spain.

But Beckham, 29, said last month he was thinking of returning home because of media harassment.

The building plans are proposed by Ropemaker Developments. They are opposed by Hertfordshire county council and East of England Assembly.

County council officer Steve Bailes said: "A line drawn from north of Harlow to the M11 goes close to Beckham's home. He'd be taken into account in drawing it up." Planning wrangles aside, Beckham surprised his wife by whisking her off in a private jet from Madrid to Paris.

He had to miss her birthday on Sunday because he was playing for Real Madrid. Beckham-made it up by booking-into the £3,000-a-night Coco Chanel suite at the Ritz.

He also took her jewellery shopping followed by dinner at the three Michelin - starred L'Arpege restaurant.