New buyer reprieve for village

Residents of a Devon village whose landlord gave them three months' notice to quit have won their battle to stay after a new buyer snapped up their homes.

Sixty people were threatened with imminent eviction from historic Gittisham after millionaire landowner, Canadian Richard Marker, said the estate was costing him too much to maintain.

Villagers, who feared they would be left homeless, accused Mr Marker of acting like a feudal landlord and "ripping the heart" out of their community.

But after a high-profile campaign to save the 3,500 Combe Estate, the £7million sale of 15 of the 27 historic cottages was finally confirmed last night.

The buyer, Northumberland & Durham Property Trust Ltd, has promised to withdraw all notices to quit and allow the tenants to stay. Most of the remaining 12 homes will be sold to tenants.