RESIDENTS in a sleepy suburb of Bolton woke up today wondering whether Posh Spice and David Beckham would soon be their neighbours. Homeowners in leafy lanes around Dobb Brow, Westhoughton, are more used to washing their cars or walking the dog than the champagne lifestyle of a superstar. But today all the talk was about whether the rumours were true that Britain's hottest celebrity couple were set to move to a mansion in the affluent area. Schoolboy Chris Alker, aged 10, whose bedroom is a shrine to Manchester United and England ace Beckham, said he couldn't wait for the superstar's expensive house "transfer".

Reports are sweeping the area that Beckham and the sexy Spice Girl have been seen weighing up the new luxury houses.

And a spokesman for the developers has confirmed there have been inquiries from "Premier League footballers".

If they are true, young Chris can't wait for Beckham to move in. "Becks is my hero," he said. "He's a brilliant player who has been really successful. Perhaps he'll have a kickabout in the garden with me."

Pensioner Edith Brennan, aged 74, who lives opposite the luxury home rumoured to be midfielder Beckham's dream move, said she couldn't wait for the party begin.

"We've all heard they might be coming," she said. "I'm a mad keen United fan and I reckon it will liven the place up."

But not all local folk were happy at the thought of having Beckham and fiancee Victoria Adams as neighbours.

One woman, who recently moved into a mansion on the exclusive six-home estate, said she wouldn't like all the fuss. "I don't want the publicity and media interest," she said. "We came here for a quiet life in the country."

But most people said they'd be pleased to welcome the young couple as friends.

Grandad and long-standing resident Andrew Lowe, aged 64, who lives a stone's throw from the custom-built development, said residents were a quiet, but friendly, bunch.

"It's true the rumours are rife about them coming," he said. "But it makes no difference to me. We're all nice people and I'm sure they'd be no different."

Seven-year-old Richard Smith said even his allegiance to Bolton Wanderers wouldn't stop him saying hello to Posh. "I like the Spice Girls," he said.

But young dad Ian Alker, of Dobb Brow Road, said he wasn't sure whether local attractions including nearby pubs the Bridge Inn and Red Lion would be enough to keep the fashion conscious trendsetters happy. "The pubs here are lovely places to go for a drink, but hardly the nightclubs of Manchester or London," he said.

Builders are still busy completing houses on the exclusive estate near Long Island Golf Club. But today workmen seemed more interested in the arrival of sexy Posh, than the prospect of meeting soccer hero Becks.

Holding a full-size cardboard cut-out of the scantily-clad singer, kindly supplied to the BEN by Clinton Cards, Bolton, plasterer Mel Kenyon said he knew which superstar he'd like to score with.

"Posh is welcome to move here anytime," he said. "In fact, she can move to my house whenever she wants."

Meanwhile, club officials at Manchester United promised to contact their star man on the BEN's behalf, but no reply came before today's deadline.

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