NIGEL Mansell may have risen to become one of Britain's most famous racing drivers, but the legend all began exactly 50 years ago at a house in a small village outside Upton-upon-Severn.

Mansell, who turns 50 today, was born at The Stores in Baughton, then a tea shop and general store run by his parents Eric and Joyce, who lived upstairs.

Nowadays, the property is home to Aileen and Roger Clough - their youngest daughter, Alice, was born there five years ago - and they are only too aware of its heritage.

The couple moved to Baughton with their three children in 1995, not long after the house was converted following the closure of the old store in 1990.

But they were aware of the Mansell connection from day one because it was mentioned in the estate agent's details.

"The boys were really excited that Nigel Mansell had lived here, they were only 10 and six at the time," said Mrs Clough.

The family had moved from Welland, near Malvern, and were attracted to the house because they were keen to stay in the area.

They chose The Stores to give them more space, rather than buying it because they were big fans of Nigel Mansell.

"He was actually born in a room upstairs," said Mrs Clough. "It's a talking point."

Although Mansell left Baughton at the age of four, to move to Birmingham, he is still well-remembered in the village.

"The Gay Dog Inn is where he used to drive his pedal car," said Mrs Clough, who is eight years younger than the famous Formula 1 driver.

"A colleague of mine once needed to drop something off for me, and I was having a hard time giving him directions.

"When he got here he said: 'Why didn't you just tell me it was Nigel Mansell's house? I would have found it straight away'."

The closest Mrs Clough has come to meeting the racing driver was running into his cousin through mutual friends... although she wouldn't say no to a nice signed picture for the house which maybe, one day, will sport a blue plaque.