MULTI-MILLIONAIRE Roman Abramovich could this very moment be sifting through a property magazine looking at some of Dorset's most desirable homes.

The Chelsea Football Club owner and Russian oil tycoon has been hand delivered a copy of Lloyds Property Group magazine Panache by managing director Tom Doyle. And to make his browsing even easier the impressive magazine, locally named Lloyds Living the Dream, is now printed with a Russian translation.

Mr Doyle said: "It is published in English and Russian and it carries 40 to 50 pages of the most expensive houses in Dorset together with some in London. The reason why it's in Russian is we are looking to encourage people to buy in Dorset.

"It has gone out to every hotel suite where the Russians are known to go."

Rumours are rife that Mr Abramovich has been eyeing up some of Dorset's most expensive homes.

Although he couldn't comment on whether Mr Abramovich has shown any interest in the properties for sale with Lloyds, Mr Doyle said: "He certainly likes his property, as do a lot of Russians."

He added that research carried out by his company has found that there are 250,000 Russians currently living in London and 700 of them are multi-millionaires. None of them as yet are believed to have bought into the Dorset housing market.

Mr Doyle said: "The Russians do like the sea, that's a fact. They are very heavy in Dubai and Marbella, but they are not heavy in the Sandbanks area.

"I can assure you they read our magazine.

"Mr Abramovich has my magazine. I actually gave it to him personally at the football club."

The portfolio section in the magazine showcases some of Dorset most spectacular homes which boast beautiful sea views.

They include the four bedroom Whitley House which is located in the enviable position overlooking Poole Harbour and situated adjacent to the Luscombe Valley Nature Reserve. Many of the rooms have views towards Brownsea Island and the Purbecks. The house is in the sought after Canford Cliffs area of Poole and is on the market for £2.5 million. Or Mr Abramovich might prefer to splash out the same amount of cash for Tranquility in Bingham Avenue - a five bedroom house also in Canford Cliffs, which comes with a cinema room.

Keith Fensom, associate director of Savills in Canford Cliffs, said the company has a Russian desk in its London office and has recently seen increased interest from Russians wishing to buy in the area.

"We are not aware he (Mr Abramovich) is buying down here or looking at the moment but perhaps once this area is on the map and word gets out people might look to buy here."

Mr Abramovich's fortune is estimated at around £11 billion.

Could a home in Dorset be the next item on his shopping list?

First published: October 19