MIDDLESBROUGH footballer Christian Karembeu and his supermodel model wife are still looking for a home in the region - after being beaten to two properties.

The French international told a national newspaper at the weekend that he and Adriana Sklenarikova, famous for modelling the Wonderbra, had found two houses they really liked, but missed out on them both.

It is not known whether one of the properties was the £395,000 house they viewed, near Woodburn Drive, Darlington.

The Northern Echo revealed last year that Karembeu and his wife had looked around the four-bedroom home, which included a swimming pool and looked out on to the River Tees.

The couple are also believed to have looked at properties in the Yarm area, which already boasts Middlesbrough manager Bryan Robson and defender Gary Pallister as residents.

Karembeu says he likes living near to the countryside and has been very complimentary about Middlesbrough's training complex at Hurworth, near Darlington.

"I know what everyone says about me living in Middlesbrough, but when you come here you find the training ground is nowhere near the town," he said.

"It's actually in the countryside, very quiet and peaceful, great.

"All I need is to settle myself with a new home and I am happy. I have been beaten to two homes recently. I found houses I liked but did not realise you had to move so quickly to buy them.