A story in yesterday's Royal Gazette wrongly named Michael Douglas' mother, Diana Douglas Darrid, as Diana Dill Darrell. We apologise for the error.

Film legend Michael Douglas has signed an agreement to buy a $2.5m home in Warwick as a holiday getaway to share with his wife Catherine Zeta Jones and their new baby son Dylan, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

Mr. Douglas has undertaken to buy Longford, a 2.2 acre old Bermudian home which has five bedrooms, a pool, two cottages, and spectacular views across Hamilton Harbour.

Mr. Douglas flew into the Island on a private jet last week to sign the legal agreement to buy.

The superstar couple have a home in New York and hope to use their new retreat on the Island to escape from the pressure of their Hollywood film careers as often as possible.

Mr. Douglas, 55, is a co-owner of the Ariel Sands beachside colony in Devonshire and is the son of Bermudian Diana Dill Darrell and movie legend Kirk Douglas.

The sale is being handled by Rego Realtors and will be rubber stamped once the conveyancing is finished.

Rego Realtors President Buddy Rego said the couple will make minor alterations to the two-storey property, which was built in 1821, and hope to be able to begin using it in September.

Mr. Rego told The Royal Gazette yesterday that when Mr. Douglas approached him two months ago looking for a house, he insisted it had to be an old home full of Bermudian charm.

The actor wants to have a permanent base on the Island so that his five-month-old son, Dylan, can grow up in a safe environment.

But because of the hectic filming commitments of both actors, Longford will not be their main home.

Mr. Rego would not disclose the amount paid, but The Royal Gazette understands it is around $2.5 million.

Mr. Rego said last night: "He has entered into an agreement to purchase. It is a beautiful old Bermudian house with two cottages, a swimming pool and is laden with Bermuda cedar.

"He was totally attracted because it is totally Bermudian in character and that was his prerequisite when he called looking to purchase.

"It is wooden throughout and is not modern. He has strong family connections here and it is very convenient. With Catherine being from Wales it is a perfect stopping off point.

"It has a temperate climate and is a great place to get away from it all.'' Mr. Rego said the property had mature trees and plantation and was reasonably secure.

But he said he would not be surprised if Mr. Douglas plants extra trees to block out the prying lenses of the paparazzi.

He said the proposed sale was a major coup for his saleswoman Lyndy Thatcher, who has known Mr. Douglas for some time.

"It is great for Bermuda that someone like that, despite his family connections, that he has chosen Bermuda to have a home.

"He has just started a family, and I know from speaking to Catherine, that they looked at this as a safe and nice environment to get away from it all.

That was a major concern and Bermuda offered that to them.'' Bermudians Jim and Jenny Longford bought the property in 1994 and are moving to another house on the Island.

Mrs. Longford refused to comment on the sale yesterday.