THE macho warrior image of Hollywood superstar Russell Crowe took a battering during his stay in York after he was spotted enjoying high tea in Bettys Tea Rooms.

The Evening Press exclusively reported yesterday that the Gladiator heart-throb made a surprise visit to a nursing home in the city to see his wife Danielle's frail grandparents, Peter and Nell Horsfall, from Nether Poppleton.

Family members - including Danielle's aunt and uncle, Peter and Anne Horsfall - later enjoyed a meal at the Blue Bicycle restaurant, in Fossgate.

We can now reveal that the actor may be showing a softer side after being spotted queuing to get into Bettys, in St Helen's Square, for traditional high tea.

It was a far cry from the public image of Crowe as a beer-swilling, rugby playing man's man.

Waitresses serving him later realised who it was and got him to sign one of the tea rooms' menus.

Earlier, the star and his two burly minders were directed into the city centre from Bishopthorpe, where they were staying, by passing cyclist David Berry.

The 19-year-old, from Bishopthorpe, who works for Norwich Union, said he was stopped by Crowe on his way to work on Thursday morning and asked the walking route into York.

David said: "I didn't realise who it was at the time, although I remember thinking he sounded exactly the same as the character in Gladiator.

"People told me later at work that he was in Bettys. He was just really polite and thanked me for my help.

"I thought it can't be him because why would he be in York?

"If I'd have known I would have chatted to him properly."

A spokeswoman for Bettys said: "Bettys is an oasis of calm and we think it's important to respect his (Crowe's) privacy.

"All our customers are celebrities to us so he wasn't treated any differently. He joined the queue like everyone else.

"We're sure he had a lovely time."

It is believed Mr Crowe got the train back to London with Danielle and his baby son, Charlie, on Thursday afternoon.

Updated: 11:00 Saturday, November 12, 2005