Beckham home auction plan fails

It was hoped the house would fetch more than £500,000

The owners of David Beckham's modest childhood home have withdrawn the property from an auction.

They were hoping the "brand Beckham" effect would see the three-bedroom terraced house in, Leytonstone, east London, sell for upwards of £500,000.

However, the Norman Road property failed to attract any bids above the guide price of £215,000 and was withdrawn.

Estate agent Colin Evans said he still believed a buyer would be found.

He said: "My faith in 'brand Beckham' is 100% still. The main thing is that he is bigger than most people around the world."

Mr Evans also insisted that he could still get double the market value of the property or more.

He previously listed the house on a website for £850,000.

Book planned

Mr Evans was researching Leytonstone local heroes for a book that he is planning when he traced 33-year-old Beckham's roots to the house.

He contacted the owners, who decided to sell up.

Beckham's agents previously confirmed that the home was where he lived as a small boy before the family moved to Chingford.

His career began in earnest when he played for the under-10 side Ridgeway Rovers, in east London.

The auction had been due to take place at Savills.