Buyer snaps up whole village

A buyer has bought an whole village in a move that has angered locals. The unidentified person is believed to have paid pounds 1m for Upton Cheyney, a hamlet of 12 cottages set in a 160-acre estate near Bath.

The offer was accepted and contracts signed with receivers KMPG - in spite of an auction which was planned for next Thursday when some residents were hoping to bid for their homes.

Maggie Smith, who lives in the village, was angered by the surprise sale. "The way we have been treated by the receivers is appalling. There is absolutely nothing we can do about it."

"We are waiting to see what the new landlord is like. We are hoping the new owner will appreciate the depth of feeling among villagers."