A WEALTHY businessman has stepped in to buy the sporting rights on one of the North East's most famous grouse moors - only a few weeks after they were put up for sale.

He will take over the 11,200-acre Bowes Moor near Barnard Castle, County Durham on a date in December, the day after the current shooting season ends.

The buyer, who has not yet been named, will also take over a head gamekeeper's house, two other houses and 124 acres of freehold meadow and pasture land.

Neil Kilgour, of the land agent Savills, which are handling the sale, said yesterday: "I can confirm that a sale has been agreed. But I am bound by confidentiality, so I can't say anything about the buyer or the price."

However people closely connected with the moor said they are sure the buyer is a young property tycoon who has been to Teesdale several times to shoot on various moors and has become fond of the area.

One man who regularly works on the moor said: "He has become a popular figure. Most people will be pleased, as he is known to have good ideas about moor conservation. He also does some shooting in Derbyshire.

"There have been a lot of whispers about the price, but nobody is certain about it. However it will be a surprise if it is not more than £5m, as it is an excellent moor."

The present owner, Alan Elliott, who has held the sporting rights for several years, was shooting on the moor with a party of other sportsmen yesterday, but could not be contacted.

He lives in the village of Chilton Foliat, near Hungerford, Berkshire.

The buyer, who is said to have an Italian father but was born in England, is expected to do some shooting on the moor next week.

Bags of grouse have been good on the moor since the season started on August 13. When the rights were advertised for sale last month, it was described as a renowned three-day moor with exciting potential.

The three-day term refers to the fact that there is ample space and sufficient grouse for shooting to go on for three successive days, whereas some have scope for only one or two days at a time.

Joint selling agents, Savills and Youngs, stated that the sum being paid was "significantly in excess" of the guide price of £4.5m.

Neil Kilgour, of Savills, said: "Recent improvements on the moor have created an excellent infrastructure including roads, butts, lunch huts and keepers' houses, which will be of real benefit to the new owner."

Jonathan Kennedy of CKD Kennedy Macpherson, who acted for the buyer, said: "Top quality grouse moors with potential for improvement are a scarce commodity.

"It is great news that another enthusiastic shooting individual has made this commitment to grouse shooting and conservation on a wider scale."