DARTS legend Bobby George will not be “checking out’’ of his Ardleigh home just yet – despite a national paper article to the contrary.

The BBC pundit was reported to be looking to sell his 17-bedroom home, known as George Hall, for £3.5million.

His wife, Marie, said the story did not quite reflect the situation, and the couple had no plans to sell up just yet.

Mrs George, 53, said: “The article wasn’t how we wanted it to be. We thought the paper was coming here to discuss what the property had to offer.

“We were thinking about testing the water.

“The kids are going to leave home eventually and we did sort of say we are thinking of moving, but are not sure where.”

The house, built by the retired star 15 years ago, features a pub, fishing lakes and a Chinese restaurant in the 12-acre grounds.

Celebrities, including Chris Evans, Phil Tufnell and Engelbert Humperdinck, have visited the house to play darts with the 65-year-old world championship runner-up.

Mrs George said she was not happy with the tone of the article, which described the property as resembling a “hastily run-up clubhouse of an unfashionable golf club somewhere off the M25”.

Former Clacton Rotary Club president William Stevens said East London-born Mr George was a popular figure in the community, due to his approachability. Mr Stevens said: “I saw him at Jaywick summer fair this year – he was very, very good.

“He mixed and stayed a long time, was good with everybody and quite willing to help.

“A lot of people from this area come from the area Bobby was born in, so feel an affinity with him.”

Mr George is well-known for his love of jewellery, and in 2010 performed Run DMC’s Walk This Way on Let’s Dance for Sport Relief.