The McCoys are not leaving Lambourn

Tony McCoy and his family are not leaving the area despite a home owned by the family being put on the market

LAMBOURN'S champion jump jockey, Tony McCoy, is not leaving the area - despite the fact that a home owned by he and his wife Chanelle is on the market.

The rumour mill first went into overdrive last November with false claims in a national newspaper that the family was planning to leave the country.

The article suggested that the couple were looking to sell their house at Lodge Down and move back to this year's Grand National winner's native Northern Ireland.

However, the McCoys confirmed that they were not moving away from the area and that they would be staying at the Lodge Down estate.

The couple, who moved to Lodge Down in 2006 and have a daughter called Eve, previously told councillors in 2008 that it was their dream location for a racehorse training yard because they could build self-contained gallops, and horse boxes would be able to access the M4 without driving through the village.

Meanwhile, following McCoy's triumph in last year's BBC Sports Personality Of The Year awards, West Berkshire planners received an application to build a tennis court, a new garage with gymnasium and a pool at the McCoys' Lodge Down estate.

The proposed all weather, outdoor court is designed to replace a derelict one on the east of the site.

The new garage would be built to provide covered parking for two cars, general storage and a first floor gymnasium.

Then, in this month's Newbury Home Search, published by the Newbury Weekly News, the McCoy's current home, Lodge Down House, was advertised for sale.

However, Mrs McCoy explained on Tuesday: “It is up for sale along with 40 acres. However there's a remaining 70 acres above Lodge Down which we will retain and we're exploring the option of developing Lodge Down Stables as a business enterprise.”

She confirmed that the family would still be living at the Lodge Down estate.