DAVID BECKHAM - BECKHAMS WIN BATTLE FOR $418,000 CASTLE AND FORT

LATEST: Golden couple VICTORIA and DAVID BECKHAM have finally been granted planning permission to build a giant fort and castle worth a staggering $418,000 (GBP220,000) for their three sons.

The ex-SPICE GIRL and her soccer star husband have battled for the lavish play areas for BROOKLYN, six, ROMEO, two and six-week-old CRUZ since December (04).

The Beckhams started building the 5-metre (16-foot) high Wendy house and fort at their $8.5 million (GBP4.5 million) mansion in Hertfordshire, England, last year (04) but were forced to abandon construction work after the EAST HERTFORDSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL ordered them to apply for retrospective planning permission, or risk having it knocked down.

But a planning officer visited their home, dubbed Beckingham Palace, yesterday (06APR05) and gave them permission to continue their building work, providing the two-storey play castle is never used as a home "providing permanent accommodation".

A council spokeswoman explains, "It has also been decided that the Wendy house can't be used for people to live in. It is just for the children."