A former Spice Girl is “at war” with her neighbours after trying to add a swimming pool to her Oxfordshire mansion.

Geri Horner, formerly Halliwell, was best known as Ginger Spice for many years, wearing an iconic Union Jack dress as she performed with the Spice Girls at the 1997 Brit Awards.

The 50-year-old married Formula 1 boss Christian Horner, who is the team principal with the Red Bull team, in 2015 and the pair reside in a country estate near Banbury.

Trouble has arisen though with the Horners’ neighbours who border between Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire when the couple proposed adding a swimming pool to their mansion.

Oxford Mail: Gerri Horner is attempting to add an outdoor pool to her countryside mansion.Gerri Horner is attempting to add an outdoor pool to her countryside mansion.

According to the Daily Mail, the locals are not happy with the couple’s plans to install a yew hedge, vegetable garden, raised flower beds, and the 40ft x 16ft swimming pool.

The proposal has reportedly “rubbed their neighbours up the wrong way” as the pool would be “desperately close” to the local church and therefore would be the “height of disrespect”.

One neighbour is quoted as saying: "Many local families attend the church and of course the rector conducts weddings, baptisms and funerals."

Locals are worried that church ceremonies and activities could be distracted by “screaming, shouting and splashing”.

Oxford Mail: The Spice Girls in 1997.The Spice Girls in 1997.

The house already has one swimming pool but this is situated inside the property and it is not yet known whether the plans will be approved.

This is not the first time the Horners have had issues with their neighbours over planning proposals at the mansion.

Back in 2022, they found themselves embroiled in a dispute over a proposed barn to house 14 horses at the site.

The former Spice Girl won out in the end and gained permission to build the extension but it did not go down well with locals.

One letter of objection said: "The barn has affected mobile phone signals in the village without a doubt."

Oxford Mail: The Spice Girls more recently.The Spice Girls more recently.

Another described the barn as "a hideous blight on the landscape and does not conform."

Others said it "destroys landscapes and views" while other villagers said the wealthy couple are flouting the rules.

Another neighbour added: “They have even re-routed public footpaths and installed their own style gates. How is that being allowed?"

West Northamptonshire Council permitted the building on condition it is used for private equestrian and land management uses only and no commercial use, including riding lessons, tuition, livery or competitions at any time.

In addition no additional external lights or floodlights shall be erected on the land or building 'without the prior express planning permission of the Local Planning Authority'.