Jowell's country retreat near gipsies is being sold

Her estranged husband David Mills has accepted an offer after the home on the outskirts of Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire, was put on the market for £895,000.

Simon Merton, manager of Strutt & Parker's office in Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, which is handling the deal, said: "The property is under offer and the sale is going ahead despite the problems on the neighbouring gipsy site.

"The purchaser is obviously aware of the situation but the sale is still going ahead.

"We trust that the local council will deal with the gipsy site which has been set up without any planning permission."

Olympic Minister Ms Jowell separated from corporate lawyer Mr Mills, 53, twoyears ago in the wake of accusations that he received a £350,000 bribe from ex-Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi over evidence he gave in court.

Mr Mills denies the claim.

Neighbours say Ms Jowell had been in the area only a couple of times in recent months.

One, who did not want to be named, said: "We know David well but we very rarely see Tessa about these days."

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The former couple's rural idyll was shattered on Good Friday when about 100 gipsies moved on to a nearby field to set up camp for 32 caravans.

It includes fences, paving and water and electricity supplies for the two-and-a-half-acre site, bought a year ago for £12,000.

Conservative councillor for Shipston Chris Saint said of the camp: "It's being viewed with alarm from a planning point of view because it's an unauthorised encampment and people are also worried that there will be pilfering.

"The gipsies can apply for retrospective planning permission. But everyone would much rather they had not taken the law into their own hands in the first place by building this camp without permission."

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