THE rich and famous are known for snapping up fabulous homes in Los Angeles, Paris and London, and now it seems the picturesque village of Grasmere could be added to the list of superstar hideaway locations, reports Michaela Robinson-Tate.
Mystery surrounds a number of appearances by the singer and international star Sting in the tourist honeypot, and according to villagers, he may have bought himself a Lakeland home.
If the rumours are true, the singer - famous for hits including Every Breath You Take, and Fields of Gold - would probably be Grasmere's most famous resident since William Wordsworth.
Set in a secluded location away from the village centre, the house at the centre of the riddle was deserted this week.
But down in the village, where Sting - who started out with rock band The Police - has already been seen out with his actress wife Trudi Styler and a golden Labrador dog, the unconfirmed reports have caused quite a stir.
Locals were keen to share snippets of news.
Sting and Trudi are said to favour Baldry's Caf for their light refreshments, and Sting, who turned 50 last month, has already hosted a party at the house.
Darren Craven, who manages the Famous Army Stores in the village, said the star, who has just released an album All This Time, and his wife, called into the shop less than a month ago.
"I sold him a hat but I'm far too proud to acknowledge who he is," said Mr Craven.
"He looked very well, he had his wife with him and had a coffee in Baldry's."
The singer, who was born at Wallsend in the North East, but who now has a property in Tuscany and a main family home in Wiltshire, paid by credit card for the £ 5 cricketer's-style hat.
Mr Craven said he had heard local people had already called at the house: "He is obviously here for a quiet time and he managed that for a day or so."
Denise Cosgrove, who runs Crofthouse Bakery, had seen the star.
"I think it's great, I just hope people will leave him alone.
It must be awful if you are a superstar and you live somewhere and everybody's making a lot of it all the time.
I think he just wants to live a normal life."
Used to serving stars like football legend Bobby Charlton and actress Francesca Annis, she said she would not want the singer to feel uncomfortable if he called.
Local contractors reported to be working on the property remained tight-lipped this week, and the star's New York office was unavailable for comment.
Grasmere resident and a parish and district councillor, Elizabeth Braithwaite, who campaigns on rural affairs, said she would be interested to know if the property was to be a second home, which could give cause for concern.
"All the world knows and loves Grasmere so it's no surprise when people with well-known names choose to come to this village - we are used to that," she
said.
