It is a long way from Las Vegas but Canadian crooner Michael Buble is reported to have bought himself a luxury £3m house in Purley’s plushest estate.

The 35-year-old Grammy winner bought his country pile in the exclusive Webb estate in Purley, south London’s premier suburban retreat.

The singer will move into the plush pad with his fiancee, Argentine actress Luisana Lopilato and, according to friends of the star, plans to spend six months of each year at the house.

A source said: “Michael’s bought a really smart house. He wants it to be a proper home.”

The jazz singer joins the likes of Status Quo frontman Francis Rossi, television survival expert Ray Mears and mind control expert Derren Brown, all of whom have called Purley home.

The Las Vegas showman has decided to swap the bright lights of the world’s gambling capital for the ultimate suburban retreat of the 260-acre, extremely private, 225-house estate where the average house price is about £2m.

Developer William Webb started construction on the Webb estate in 1898 with the aim of creating a garden city utopia for London workers.

In 1916 Mr Webb said: “A few city men live at the West End, but by far the greater number seek to spend their leisure time and bring up their families at the nearest spot to their work where they can find a comparatively country home.”

With this idea in mind the developer set about creating a suburban utopia where each house was surrounded by mature trees, hedges and privets.

However, in 1987 a hurricane destroyed several hundred trees with the worst affected area being the Promenade de Verdun, on which the whole avenue of poplars was destroyed and had to be replanted by Croydon Council.

Buble shot to fame in 2003 after his debut album, Michael Buble, reached the top 10 in the UK and Canadaian charts and No 1 in Australia.

He has sold more than 25m albums worldwide and his 2010, his concerts netted him about £45m.

A spokesman for Croydon Council said: “We welcome every new resident to the borough, regardless of how famous they are. We hope Michael settles in well and enjoys everything the area has to offer.”

TALE OF THE TAPE:

Las Vegas:

Main drag: Sunset Strip
Population: 1,563,282
Average temp: 19.5C
Casinos: 122
Famous residents: Tony Curtis, Sammy Davis Jr, Liberace, Elvis
Claim to fame: Las Vegas lists its two main industries as gambling and divorces.
Trivia: It would take 288 years for one person to spend one night in every hotel room in Las Vegas.

Purley:
Main drag: Brighton Road Population: 72,000
Average temp: 6.7C
Casinos: 1
Famous residents: Derren Brown, Ray Mears, Francis Rossi, Jay Aston (Bucks Fizz).
Claim to fame: 1970s sitcom Terry and June.
Trivia: The name Purley derives from pirlea, which means pear tree lea.