David Beckham must make space for bats

DAVID Beckham has been ordered to create a safe space for bats within the grounds of his home.

The 46-year-old former footballer and his wife Victoria Beckham had applied for permission to knock down an old outbuilding on their Cotswolds estate and replace it with a new garage to house their tractors and lawnmowers.

Although council planners have approved the scheme, the pair – who have sons Brooklyn, 22, Romeo, 19, Cruz, 16 and daughter Harper, 10, together – must show proof the new building will offer shelter for the mammals before they can go ahead with constructing the garage.

Documents obtained by the Daily Mail newspaper’s Eden Confidential column stated: “Before the erection of any external walls, details of the provision of at least one integrated bat box within the walls of the new building shall be submitted for approval.”

And the couple also have to consider the bats when it comes to lighting as they are prohibited from installing any outdoor fixtures which “would directly illuminate the bat box or the hedgerow without prior approval to protect roosting, foraging or community bats.”

Meanwhile, the couple appears to have settled into a cosy family life. “We have a lot of fun. We support each other with everything ... but it’s about having fun and enjoying that person’s company. I genuinely love being with him,” said Victoria.

It was recently revealed the couple had installed a £7000 (about R102000) state-of-the-art ice cream machine at their Oxfordshire estate, which recreates treats from US fast food chain Wendy’s. | Bang Showbiz