Spike Milligan's home, described by the comic legend as the ugliest house in the world, is up for sale.

Appearing on Room 101 with host Paul Merton, he told the nation his house near Rye in East Sussex was "bloody awful".

Now his wish to see the £800,000 five-bedroom house demolished could come true, two years after his death.

His widow Shelagh faces the daunting task of finding a buyer for the spacious Carpenters, renamed by the irreverent Spike "The Blind Architect".

The Sixties home is on the market and there is a good chance the buyer will tear it down to make better use of its two-acre grounds, set in magnificent countryside.

Spike certainly would have no objection.

He told the 1999 show with Merton, he tried to have the building consigned to the dustbin of history.

He said: "It's built from concrete blocks. It's blank, blank, blank. That's why I hate it - because I own it."

Asked how the building could be improved, he retorted: "You could set fire to it."

The imposing two-storey building does look more like a modern retirement home than a private residence but Spike actually adored his house.

Mrs Milligan said: "He grew very fond of it.

"But when he said what he did on Room 101 people believed him. And now I've got to sell it.

"We settled in East Sussex because Spike had been posted to Bexhill in the war. He had been brought up in India so it was the first bit of countryside he knew.

"Spike didn't say much when we came to look around. But he had always suffered from noise and his biggest concern was the seclusion and quiet.

"The rest really didn't come into the equation."

Carpenters is steeped in showbiz history. It has been host to The Beatles, Emma Thompson, Harry Secombe and celebrity chef Robert Carrier but became a pilgrimage for hundreds of loyal Goons fans hoping to meet the great man and share a joke.

The house is littered with Milligan touches. The mantelpiece bears the notice "No smoking, we are trying to give up lung cancer".

A sign in the kitchen reads "Vegetarian - someone who is nice to meat".

And a framed pre-Russian revolution banknote is marked: "In case of restoration of Russian monarchy break glass".

Spike died aged 83 at his home with his family at his bedside.

The imposing house has commanding views over the cliffs at Hastings.

On a clear night the twinkle of lights in France can be seen.

The home has a 37ft drawing room, heated pool, all-weather tennis court and three bathrooms.

The house is being sold by Phillips & Stubbs in Rye. Call 01797 227338 for details.