A FUTURE heir to one of the North-East's largest country estates has been born.

William Henry Cecil Vane, who can expect to become the 13th Baron Barnard, was born last Saturday at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

The baby, who weighed 9lb 8oz, is the grandson of Lord Barnard, of Raby Castle, near Staindrop, County Durham.

Staindrop church rang a peal of six bells to greet the new arrival.

William is the son of the Honorable Harry Vane and his wife, Kate.

Mr Vane said: "We are all thrilled. Kate and William are both doing well."

The couple already have two daughters, five-year-old Cicely and three-year-old Alice.

Raby Estates cover much of Teesdale and are famed for their white farmhouses.

Legend has it that an ancestor of Lord Barnard ordered all his estate buildings to be painted white after getting lost and demanding food and lodging from a local farmer, believing him to be one his tenants.

It transpired the farmer was the tenant of another landlord and, since then, all Raby buildings have been painted white to differentiate them.

Raby Castle, the seat of the Lords Barnard, originally belonged to the Neville family until their lands were forfeited to the crown following the unsuccessful Rising of the North, in 1569.

Sir Henry Vane the Elder purchased the estate and titles from the Crown in 1626 and it has remained in the family since then.