Antonio Banderas big home problem

25 January 2008 - Antonio Banderas has been ordered to demolish a fifth of his £5 million Spanish mansion.

The 'Mask of Zorro' star has become the latest victim of the country's efforts to clean up illegal developments after a Malaga court ruled a huge extension to his beachfront Costa del Sol property near Marbella was constructed without the proper licence.

Banderas was told Marbella town officials should never have allowed the previous owner to build the additional 300 sq ft wing in 1995.

The 47-year-old actor has been given eight weeks to tear down the huge section of his six-bedroom holiday home - named 'La Gaviota' or 'The Seagull' - which he purchased with wife Melanie Griffith 11 years ago.

Lawyers for the star are expected to appeal the decision.

Spain's socialist government plans to demolish thousands of coastal homes along 500 miles of Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol, after it was revealed corrupt town hall officials had reclassified green belt land in return for backhanders.

(C) BANG Media International