However, Downing Street did not specify exactly how Blair was to repay the high-pitched disco legend and how much he was paying — while Gibb's wife told a British newspaper that no money had changed hands.

For his traditional Christmas family holiday, Blair, his lawyer wife Cherie and three of their four children have jetted off to Gibb's US mansion in Miami Beach, which overlooks Biscayne Bay and boasts 10 bedrooms and nine bathrooms.

The vacation got off to a troublesome start when the plane they were on overshot the runway.

"The Blairs have made a private agreement and they are paying for their accommodation," said a Downing Street spokesperson.

But asked if they had accepted money from the Blairs, Dwina Murphy-Gibb told the Daily Mail: "No, we are, they are just friends. It's just a friendly thing. They have their own staff, who come over, of course. They are just friends and we are heading out there to be with them. It's a friendly arrangement."

Blair has been criticised in British newspapers over the years for holidaying with the rich and famous for free, though he has occasionally made charity donations in lieu of rent.

Local estate agents reckon that holidaymakers would expect to pay between $50 000 dollars and $80 000 dollars per week to rent such a prime seaside spot.

British newspapers said singers Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan, Shakira and Enrique Iglesias were among Gibb' neighbours, along with his brother Barry, actor Matt Damon, racing driver Eddie Irvine, tennis star Anna Kournikova and wrestler Hulk Hogan.

The Bee Gees — Robin, Barry and the late Maurice Gibb — have had a string of worldwide hits, including "How Deep Is Your Love?" and "Stayin' Alive" (1977) and "Massachusetts" (1967).

Tony Blair, the rockstar

Robin Gibb, a longstanding supporter of Blair's governing Labour Party, once introduced the prime minister at a 2005 election rally.

"I was completely starstruck tonight. "I met one of my heroes," Blair admitted then.

Blair, the frontman and guitarist in the band Ugly Rumours while studying law at the prestigious University of Oxford in the early 1970s, seems to have an affinity with pop's elder statesmen: he has spent three holidays at the Barbados hideway of the British veteran singer Cliff Richard.

In August 2004, he spent two days with the then Italian prime minister and business tycoon Silvio Berlusconi at his Sardinia villa.

He has also spent several holidays in the 50-room Villa Cuscona belonging to Prince Girolamo Strozzi in Tuscany, Italy.

British bookmakers offered odds on who would be the first to host a Blair holiday in 2007.

William Hill quoted Richard and U2 rocker-cum-activist Bono — soon to be awarded an honorary British knighthood — as joint 2/1 favourites, with Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger next at 6/1.

Tom Cruise (8/1), David Beckham (10/1), Elton John (12/1), Sting (16/1), Madonna (25/1) and even Queen Elizabeth II — who traditionally hosts her prime ministers in the British summer anyway — was at 33/1.

AFP