England and Liverpool star Gerrard's Gym causes a stir

Liverpool and England star Steven Gerrard has upset his neighbours by building a modern gym in his garden that dwarfs their homes, a report said Wednesday.

The two-storey copper-and-glass building costing 350,000 pounds (440,000 euros, 656,000 dollars) in the garden of Gerrard's mansion is so big that it has a different postcode from his palatial home, The Times newspaper reported.

Some of the midfielder's neighbours in the exclusive Freshfield suburb of Liverpool in northwest England say the modern, flat-roofed gym is completely out of keeping with the style of other properties in the area.

Cecil Crossley, who lives nearby, said: "I cannot begin to understand why anyone would want to build an eyesore like this in their back garden.

"It is not in keeping with the properties in this area: it's like building an ASDA supermarket in the middle of a beauty spot."

Despite several objections, 28-year-old Reds captain Gerrard and his wife Alex Curran, whose public flaunting of the couple's wealth made her one of the original Wives and Girlfriends (WAGs) of the England squad, received planning permission.

After eight months of building work, it will soon be ready.

But not all the neighbours are against it. One woman who lives opposite the new building said: "The gym is not my taste but my husband and two sons love it.

"There are always going to be people who are going to object but there are a lot who love the fact he is here -- and I'm sure that Gerrard doesn't care what others think.

Sapa-AFP