WONDERBRA model Adriana Sklenarikova and her footballer husband, Christian Karembeu, will certainly get a warm welcome from neighbours of one Darlington house they have viewed.

The 28-year-old Slovakian beauty was thought to be unhappy with their move to the region when she criticised the area's weather and food, following her husband's arrival at Middlesbrough.

But, although more used to the bright lights of fashion capitals such as Paris and Milan, the couple are said to have taken a shine to the region's countryside and have viewed at least one home in the town.

Estate agents have confirmed interest from a number of footballers in Darlington's Carmel Road South and Coniscliffe Road area.

And the couple are understood to have looked at a house valued at nearly £400,000 in the area. It is thought to have five bedrooms, a pool, twin garages and an acre of land.

One man living nearby was brimming with enthusiasm at the model's arrival - but his thoughts on the footballer were lukewarm.

"I think it's terrific," he said. "I hope she walks her dog a lot - if they have a dog. I might kick my ball over the fence a few times. I don't suppose she will be here a lot, though, and I don't think he will be here long, from the way I've seen him play."

Another neighbour said she had heard rumours that the pair had been viewing and described the prospect of having famous neighbours as "fine", saying she thought the couple would like the area.

"It's certainly not the heart of London, is it?" she said. "But it's a nice area, it's reasonably quiet."

Living in Darlington would suit the Slovakian model and her French husband.

Karembeu, who hails from the island of Lifou, who signed for Middlesbrough from Real Madrid in the summer, would only be a short ride from the Teesside club's Hurworth training ground.

With Teesside International Airport only ten minutes drive away, Adriana would also be able to jet off on her international modelling assignments with relative ease.

And although it may not offer the chance to eat on the Champs Elysees or shop in Milan, there is still a lot in Darlington to attract the couple.

They could eat at the popular Ochis Caribbean and Mediterranean rest-aurant in Bondgate, buy clothes in designer stores such as Joseph M and Elan and finish the day at the Civic Theatre.

If her husband was training and Adriana had time to kill, she could pop into CACI Beauty Oasis for some beauty treatment.

She may even want to further her education with courses at the town's Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, or Darlington College of Technology.

Middlesbrough FC spokesman Dave Allan confirmed that the couple were house-hunting, after taking a shine to the area.

He said: "They have always said they would find a house in this area and settle down here. They have been very impressed with the countryside."

Robin Catterall, a director at up-market estate agents Jackson, Stops and Staff, said the area was popular for footballers.

"We have had interest from footballers and non-footballers," he said. "He's not the only one looking."