Veteran rocker Rod Stewart has paid out $32 million (GBP18 million) for his own private island - a replica of Great Britain.

The MAGGIE MAY hitmaker reportedly beat out fierce competition to get the luxury land, which is situated in the Arabian Gulf, by buying the rights from the CROWN PRINCE OF DUBAI.

And, according to insiders, Rod hopes to level out the island to build a golf course and live there peacefully with his stunning girlfriend PENNY LANCASTER.

A source tells British newspaper the DAILY STAR, "No-one is saying officially who the buyer is yet, but now we've been told it's Rod.

"For his money he'll only get a piece of sand to call his own. It is shaped like England, Scotland and Wales - someone else owns the island of Ireland.

"It's going to be completely blank. He can do absolutely what he wants with it, except build a casino, because of our strict gambling laws. It's the size of 10 of his beloved soccer pitches, which isn't a massive area, but it's plenty big enough for a luxury estate with a golf course.

"And there will be plenty of space left over for Penny to lounge around in luxury. Rod is no stranger to the area. A mate of his owns one of the area's top bars and he has often popped over for holidays. It seems he's fallen in love with the region."

20/07/2004 13:35