TWO farmers are hoping for strong bidding when their 355-acre estate, possibly including two Lord of the Manor titles, goes under the hammer at auction tomorrow.

Agents acting for Harry Hargreaves and Ronnie Thompson in the sale of their Salesbury Hall estate in the Ribble Valley have sent out details to more than 200 people in the run-up to the auction to be held in the Shireburn Arms Hotel at Hurst Green.

Alongside the dozen or so farmers interested in buying one or all five lots within the estate are a number of non-farming millionaires.

Agent Richard Turner explained: "Within the last couple of weeks we have had a number of people interested in the property who are looking at it from a non-farming point of view.

"One in particular is looking at the entire estate from a prestige point of view while there are also people who are looking at the hall and stone buildings with a view to development.

"Another interested party isn't really interested in the farm lot but is considering buying it anyway and possibly leasing it out."

Lot one is a four-bedroomed farmhouse with 345 acres and fishing rights to the River Ribble. Salesbury Hall and more than two acres of land forms lot two in the sale; an eight-acre wood is lot three, a stretch of land close to the river lot four and Lord of the Manor titles for Salesbury and Dinckley lot five.

However, Mr Turner said the auction may not now include the two titles.

He said: "We may not offer the titles at all but we have enough interest from farmers for the other lots. The one or two non-farmers may push the price up and we are looking at about one or one-and-a-quarter million for the main lot."

The auction begins at 2pm.

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