THE new Lord of Bowland is a don at one of Cambridge University's most prestigious colleges, it has been revealed.

The 49-year-old, whose full identity has not been revealed, snapped up the title at an auction last month.

He is a linguistic scientist who specialises in the history of Lancashire, its place names and ancient dialects.

He also has ancestral links to the Forest of Bowland, according to the Manorial Society which represents Britain's 1,900 lords of the manor and feudal barons.

The title dates back to the Doomsday Book, but has not been used since 1885 when the estates of one of Lancashire's great aristocratic families, the Townleys, was broken up following the death of the last male heir.

It is not known how much the title sold for, but on average they cost several thousand pounds.