CARL Fogarty’s lavish Ribble Valley home has been put up for sale for £1.7million.

The legendary superbike champion has vowed to continue to live in the area but said that he wanted to downsize from the huge five-bedroom home, which is set in nine acres of land.

Foggy, who has now retired after winning four world championships in the 1990s, said he would be sad to leave the house he had lived in and developed since buying it in 1994.

The Blackburn Bullet, who lives at the property in Saccary Lane, Mellor, with wife Mich-aela and daughter Claudia, 15, said: “It is a great house but it is just too big.

"My daughter Danielle, 18, has already moved out and it has made us think about downsizing.

“And I want to be able to travel more without worrying about the big house back home.

“I don’t want to move to far but we just don’t need so much space any more.”

He said he bought the house for £400,000 and has spent ‘a fortune’ developing and exten-ding it, totalling an estimated £500,000.

The contemporary house features five bedrooms and four bathrooms.

There is a large cinema room and outside there is a one-acre lawn, exterior hot tub and tennis court.

The property is gated, has a private drive and there are several security lights inclu-ding exterior lights and CCTV cameras. There is also planning permission to build a triple garage and granny flat.

Estate agent Fine and County, based in Whalley, is marketing the property.

It said: “Originally built in 1952 this stylish detached residence has been skilfully extended and completely refur-bished in recent years to prov-ide excellent contemporary family accommodation.

“Situated in the heart of the Ribble Valley, Deershaw, is approached via electric gates leading to a private driveway providing a great deal of privacy and commands superb panoramic views from the Fylde Coast to the Pennines.”

For more information visit www.fineandcountry.com or call 01254 828922.