VICTORIA BECKHAM - BECKHAMS FACE CASTLE DEMOLITION

Former SPICE GIRL VICTORIA BECKHAM and her husband DAVID's failure to request planning permission to build a miniature castle in the grounds of their English mansion could lead to its demolition.

The couple built the luxury fort for their children BROOKLYN and ROMEO to play in at their home in rural Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire.

However, letters requesting the superstar couple apply for belated planning permission have gone unanswered.

Eventually the Beckhams could be ordered to demolish the $228,000 (GBP120,000) structure, which features a portcullis and drawbridge.

East Hertfordshire District Council spokesperson LOUIS PRIOR says, "We inspected the site in early December (04) and made it clear that retrospective planning permission was needed.

"We wrote again on January 13 (05) to say we had not had a reply and asking what their intentions were. We have not set a deadline but there will come a time when we will have to decide whether the fort should be allowed to stay."

The incident isn't the first time the Beckhams have upset local planners - last year (04) they began building a chapel for the joint christening of their sons in the grounds of their mansion. Council bosses forced them to halt work and apply for planning permission, but the couple were later given consent and were able to finish the project.